Oxazole and thiazole compounds as beta-catenin modulators and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

A series of oxazole and thiazole compounds are shown herein to be small molecule inhibitors of the Wnt pathway that specifically target the activity of the stabilized pool of β-catenin. Oxazole and thiazole compounds are disclosed that have a formula represented by the following: 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     The compounds may be prepared as pharmaceutical compositions, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions in mammals including humans, including by way of non-limiting example, cancer, and others.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation in Part Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/322,070, filed Jan. 28, 2009, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 61/062,772, filed Jan. 28, 2008; 61/084,681, filed Jul. 30, 2008; and 61/147,715, filed Jan. 27, 2009. The content of each of said applications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Priority under 35 U.S.C §§119 and 120 is claimed, and the entire content of each of the above applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

This invention was made with government support under Grant No. W81XWH-04-1-0460 awarded by the Department of Defense. Accordingly, the United States Government has certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to oxazole and thiazole compounds capable of modulating β-catenin activity and uses of such compounds to modulate the activity of the Wnt/wingless (wg) signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wnts/wingless (wg) are a family of conserved signaling molecules that have been shown to regulate a plethora of fundamental developmental and cell biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and cell polarity [Miller et al. Oncogene 18, 7860-72 (1999); Polakis. Genes Dev 14, 1837-51 (2000); Wodarz et al. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 14, 59-88 (1998)]. Mutations in the Wnt genes or in those genes encoding regulators of the Wnt/wg signaling pathway can cause devastating birth defects, including debilitating abnormalities of the central nervous system, axial skeleton, limbs, and occasionally other organs [Ciruna et al. Nature 439, 220-4 (2006); Grove et al. Development 125, 2315-25 (1998); Jiang et al. Dev Dyn 235, 1152-66 (2006); Kokubu et al. Development 131, 5469-80 (2004); Miyoshi et al. Breast Cancer Res 5, 63-8 (2003); Shu et al. Development 129, 4831-42 (2002); Staal et al. Hematol J 1, 3-6 (2000)]. Aberrant Wnt signaling has also been linked to human disease, such as hepatic, colorectal, breast and skin cancers [Miyoshi et al. supra (2003); Miyoshi et al. Oncogene 21, 5548-56 (2002); Moon et al. Nat Rev Genet. 5, 691-701 (2004)]. Activating mutations of beta-catenin have also been found in around 5% of prostate cancers [Chesire et al., The Prostate 45, 323 (2000); Voeller et al., Cancer research 58, 2520 (1998)]. Mutation of APC has been found in 14% in one study [Gerstein et al., Genes, chromosomes & cancer 34, 9 (2002)] and 3% in another [Watanabe et al., Japanese journal of clinical oncology 26, 77 (1996)]. Over 20% of advanced prostate cancer, 77% of prostatic lymph node metastases and 85% of prostatic skeletal metastases have been reported to exhibit increased nuclear beta-catenin, as shown by immunohistochemistry [Chen et al., Cancer 101, 1345 (2004)]. The ligands of Wnt-pathway, Wnt1, Wnt2 and Wnt5a are, moreover, up-regulated in prostate cancer samples [Chen et al., Cancer 101, 1345 (2004); Katoh, International journal of oncology 19, 1003 (2001); Usui et al., Nihon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai zasshi 44, 703 (1992)]. Immunohistochemistry has revealed that one inhibitor of the Wnt-pathway, WIF1, was down-regulated in prostate cancer [Wissmann et al., The Journal of pathology 201, 204 (2003)].

Wnts/wg encode secreted glycoproteins that activate receptor-mediated pathways leading to numerous transcriptional and cellular responses [Wodarz et al. supra (1998); Moon et al. supra (2004); Nusse. Trends Genet. 15, 1-3 (1999)]. The main function of the canonical Wnt pathway is to stabilize the cytoplasmic pool of a key mediator, β-catenin (β-cat)/armadillo (arm), which is otherwise degraded by the proteosome pathway (See FIG. 1). Initially identified as a key player in stabilizing cell-cell adherens junctions, β-cat/arm is also known to act as a transcription factor by forming a complex with the LEF/TCF (Lymphoid Enhancer Factor/T Cell Factor) family of HMG-box (High mobility group) transcription factors. Upon Wnt stimulation, stabilized β-cat/arm translocates to the nucleus, wherein together with LEF/TCF transcription factors, it activates downstream target genes [Miller et al. supra (1999); Staal et al. supra (2000); Nusse. supra (1999); Schweizer et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U SA 100, 5846-51 (2003)]. Catenin responsive transcription (CRT), which is the activation of transcriptional targets of β-cat, has been shown to regulate many aspects of cell growth, proliferation, differentiation and death. The Wnt/wg pathway can also be activated by inhibiting negative regulators such as GSK-3β (Glycogen Synthase Kinase-313), APC (Adenomatous Polyposis Coli) and Axin that promote β-cat/arm degradation, or by introducing activating mutations in β-cat that render it incapable of interacting with the degradation complex, thus stabilizing its cytosolic pool [Logan et al. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 20, 781-810 (2004); Nusse et al. Cell Res 15, 28-32 (2005)]. Wnt/wg signaling can also activate an alternative “non-canonical” pathway that may lead to PKC (Protein Kinase C) and INK (c-Jun N-terminal Kinase) activation resulting in calcium release and cytoskeletal rearrangements [Miller et al. supra (1999)].

At the plasma membrane, Wnt proteins bind to their receptor, belonging to the Frizzled family of proteins and the co-receptor encoded by LDL-related-protein-5, 6 (LRP5, LRP6)/arrow (arr, in Drosophila) [Schweizer et al. BMC Cell Biol 4, 4 (2003); Tamai et al. Mol Cell 13, 149-56 (2004)]. In the absence of the Wnt stimulus, GSK-3β is known to phosphorylate β-cat/arm, which marks it for ubiquitination and subsequent proteosome-mediated degradation. Activation of the receptor/co-receptor complex upon Wnt binding initiates a signal transduction cascade, which results in phosphorylation and subsequent inactivation of GSK-3β24.

Recent evidence has uncovered a new branch in the canonical Wnt/wg pathway whereby β-cat/arm can be stabilized in a GSK-313 independent fashion suggesting that regulated degradation of β-cat/arm (by GSK-313) is not necessary for Wnt/wg signaling [Tolwinski et al. Dev Cell 4, 407-18 (2003); Tolwinski et al. Trends Genet. 20, 177-81 (2004)]. Specifically, upon Wg binding, Arr directly recruits Axin (a scaffold protein which acts as a negative regulator) to the plasma membrane and causes its degradation. As a consequence, Arm no longer binds Axin or the degradation complex, resulting in nuclear accumulation and signaling by β-cat/Arm42.

A large number of oxazole and thiazole compounds are commercially available.

In view of the above, a need exists for therapeutic agents, and corresponding pharmaceutical compositions and related methods of treatment that address conditions causally related to aberrant Wnt pathway activity and CRT activity, and it is toward the fulfillment and satisfaction of that need, that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for preventing, treating or ameliorating in a mammal a disease or condition that is causally related to the aberrant activity of the Wnt pathway in vivo, which comprises administering to the mammal an effective disease-treating or condition-treating amount of a compound according to formula I:

wherein A is A¹, A² or A³;

-   -   A¹ is

-   -   A² is

-   -   A³ is     -   x is 1, when A is A¹ or A²; or x is 0, when A is A³;     -   L′ is S, SO or SO₂;     -   m1 is 1, 2 or 3; n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;     -   L² is substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₇ alkylene or         heteroalkylene;     -   each R¹, R^(2a), R^(2b), R^(2c), and R^(2d) is independently         selected from hydrogen, halo, and substituted or unsubstituted         C₁-C₆ alkyl;     -   R² is selected from aryl or heteroaryl, unsubstituted or         substituted with one or more R⁴;     -   R³ is hydroxy, alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted amino or         cycloheteroalkyl; or when A is A³, R³ is R⁵;     -   each R⁴ and R^(5a) is independently selected from H, alkyl,         substituted alkyl, acyl, substituted acyl, substituted or         unsubstituted acylamino, substituted or unsubstituted         alkylamino, substituted or unsubstituted alkylhio, substituted         or unsubstituted alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted         alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkylarylamino,         arylalkyloxy, substituted arylalkyloxy, amino, aryl, substituted         aryl, arylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted sulfonyl,         substituted or unsubstituted sulfinyl, substituted or         unsubstituted sulfanyl, substituted or unsubstituted         aminosulfonyl, substituted or unsubstituted arylsulfonyl, azido,         carboxy, substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl, cyano,         substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or         unsubstituted cycloheteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted         dialkylamino, halo, heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted         heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, hydroxy,         nitro, and thiol; and     -   R⁵ is selected from aryl or heteroaryl, unsubstituted or         substituted with one or more R^(5a);

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof;

and stereoisomers, isotopic variants and tautomers thereof.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, A¹ is

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, A² is

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, A³ is

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula IIa:

and wherein L¹, m1, n, R^(2a), R^(2b), R^(2c), R^(2d), R², R³, and R⁴ are as described for formula I.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula IIb:

and wherein L², R¹, R², R³, and R⁴ are as described for formula I.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula IIc:

and wherein R^(2a), R^(2b), R², R⁴, and R⁵ are as described for formula I.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an oxazole or an thiazole compound of the invention, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient or diluent. In this aspect of the invention, the pharmaceutical composition can comprise one or more of the compounds described herein. Moreover, the compounds of the present invention useful in the pharmaceutical compositions and treatment methods disclosed herein, are all pharmaceutically acceptable as prepared and used.

In a further aspect, this invention provides the compounds of the invention and other agents for use in the treatment of mammals susceptible to or afflicted with a condition from those listed herein, and particularly, such conditions as may be associated with alterations or aberrations in Wnt/wg pathway signaling.

In addition to the methods of treatment set forth above, the present invention extends to the use of any of the compounds of the invention for the preparation of medicaments that may be administered for such treatments, as well as to such compounds for the treatments disclosed and specified.

A further aspect and object of the invention, is to provide a method of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with a condition from among those listed herein, and particularly, such condition as may be associated with e.g. altered Wnt/wg pathway signaling, by administering to such mammal an effective disease-treating or condition-treating amount of a compound or composition of the invention. Such conditions include, without limitation, a variety of hyperproliferative disorders and cancers, including prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer (e.g., melanoma), hepatic cancer (e.g., hepatocellular cancer and hepatoblastoma), head and neck cancer, lung cancer (e.g., non-small cell lung cancer), gastric cancer, mesothelioma, Barrett's esophagus, synovial sarcoma, cervical cancer, endometrial ovarian cancer, Wilm's tumor, bladder cancer and leukemia. Additional support for this aspect of the invention is presented in the fact that most cancers of the skin, intestine, and breast epithelial tissue are a result of increased levels of the activated/signaling pool of β-catenin. Further to the above, evidence for the correlation between increased beta-catenin signaling and disease progression in prostate cancer is evident in the findings that over 20% of advanced prostate cancer, 77% of prostatic lymph node metastases and 85% of prostatic skeletal metastases are reported to have increased nuclear beta-catenin, as shown by immunohistochemistry [Chen et al., Cancer 101, 1345 (2004)]. The enhanced crosstalk between AR and beta-catenin pathways has, moreover, been shown in an in vivo model of castrate-resistant prostate cancer [Wang et al., Cancer Res 68, 9918 (2008)]. A number of birth defects are also associated with altered Wnt/wg pathway signaling, including debilitating abnormalities of the central nervous system, axial skeleton, limbs, and occasionally other organs.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the ensuing detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the following illustrative drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a bar graph depicting the activity of candidate inhibitors on TOP12-LF in Clone 8 cells.

FIG. 2 shows a bar graph depicting the results of genetic epistasis analyses.

FIG. 3 shows a bar graph depicting the activity of candidate inhibitors on S37A β-catenin mediated TOP12-LF in Clone 8 cells.

FIG. 4 shows a bar graph representation of the effect of several inhibitory compounds in mammalian HEK-293 cells.

FIG. 5 shows photomicrographs of Wnt3a transformed C57 mg cell phenotypes and rescue thereof by inhibitory compounds.

FIG. 6 shows a bar graph of quantitative analyses of Wnt3a transformed C57 mg cell phenotypes and rescue thereof by inhibitory compounds.

FIG. 7 shows inhibition of Wnt-target accumulation in HCT116 cells.

FIG. 8 shows transcriptional inhibition of Wnt-targets in HCT116 cells.

FIG. 9 shows that C3 & C14 cause G0/G1 arrest.

FIG. 10 shows Quantification of −αPH3 staining in compound treated HCT116 cells.

FIG. 11 depicts high levels of nuclear β-catenin expression in androgen-dependent LNCaP and androgen-independent LNCaP-abl cells. Cells were fractionated into cytoplasmic and nuclear components and analyzed for β-catenin expression by Western blot. Anti-TFII-I and tubulin antibodies were used as nuclear and cytoplasmic loading controls, respectively.

FIG. 12 shows that C3 inhibits Wnt and AR reporter gene activity in LNCaP and LNCaP-abl cells. LNCaP or LNCaP-abl (ABL) cells were cotransfected with 0.1 μg β-galactosidase and 0.2 μg S37A stabilized β-catenin together with the indicated luciferase reporter constructs; STF16-LUC (β-catenin reporter) and LB1-LUC (AR reporter). Cells were androgen-deprived in phenol-red free RPMI with 5% charcoal-stripped FBS for 24 hr after transfection, and either ethanol, 0.1 nM or 10 nM R1881 were added with or without 20 uM C3 for 24 hr. Luciferase activity was normalized to β-galactosidase expression.

FIG. 13 shows that C3 induces growth arrest and apoptosis in LNCaP and LNCaP-abl cells. A) Cells were cultured in phenol-red free RPMI with either 5% charcoal-stripped FBS supplemented with 0.1 nM R1881 (LNCaP) or 10% charcoal-stripped FBS alone (LNCaP-abl). Upper panel; For the proliferation assay, cells were treated with DMSO, and 10 μM or 20 μM C3 everyday. Neutral red uptake assay was performed at the end of treatment to estimate the number of viable cells. Lower panel; Cells were treated with DMSO or 20 μM C3 for 24 hr and then fixed in ethanol. Fixed cells were stained with Propidium Iodide and analyzed for DNA content using flow cytometry. The first and the second red peak and the dashed area represent G0/G1, M and S-phase cell population, respectively. B) Cells were treated with DMSO or 20 μM C3 for 72 hr and then lysed and immunoblotted with indicated antibodies.

FIG. 14 shows that C3 does not induce apoptosis in HEK293 cells. Left panel; HEK293 cells were cultured in DMEM with 10% FBS. Cells were treated with DMSO, 10 μM or 20 μM C3 on a daily basis. Neutral red uptake assay was performed at the end of treatment to estimate the number of viable cells. Right panel; HEK293 cells were treated with DMSO or 20 μM C3 for 72 hr and then lysed and immunoblotted with indicated antibodies.

FIG. 15 shows that C3 inhibits expression of AR and β-catenin target genes. LNCaP cells were androgen-deprived in phenol-red free RPMI with 5% charcoal-stripped FBS for 48 hr and treated for 24 hr with DMSO or 20 μM C3 with or without 0.1 nM or 10 nM R1881. Samples are normalized to RPL19 and E-cadherin and GAPDH are included as controls.

FIG. 16 shows a persistent effect of C3 on the expression of AR and β-catenin target genes. A) LNCaP or LNCaP-abl (ABL) cells were androgen-deprived in phenol-red free RPMI with 5% charcoal-stripped FBS for 48 hr and treated with DMSO or 20 μM C3 with or without 0.1 nM R1881 for up to 48 hr. ABL cells were treated similarly, but cultured in 5% charcoal-stripped phenol-red free RPMI. The mRNA was extracted at each time point and relative levels of indicated genes were analyzed by Q-PCR and normalized to RPL19. B) Protein from LNCaP cells was analyzed at each time point and immunoblotted with indicated antibodies.

FIG. 17 shows that C3 inhibits transcription of AR nascent mRNA. LNCap cells were androgen-deprived for 48 hr and then treated with DMSO or 20 μM C3 with or without 0.1 nM R1881 for 4 hr. RNA was extracted, treated with deoxyribonuclease and subjected to cDNA synthesis. Relative levels of nascent AR mRNA were analyzed by Q-PCR using primers flanking exon/exon and exon/intron.

FIG. 18 reveals an effect of β-catenin knockdown on expression of AR and Wnt target genes in ABL cells. ABL cells were transfected with control or β-catenin siRNA and cultured in phenol-red free RPMI with 5% charcoal-stripped FBS for 48 hr. Relative mRNA levels of indicated genes were analyzed by Q-PCR.

FIG. 19 reveals that (β-catenin mediates the inhibitory effect of C3 on AR expression in LNCaP. A) LNCaP-ABL cells were transfected with control or β-catenin siRNA and androgen-deprived in phenol-red free RPMI with 5% charcoal-stripped FBS for 24 hr and then treated with 0.1 nM R1881 for 24 hr. Cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and incubated with anti-AR (red), anti-β-catenin (green) antibodies, and DAPI solution (blue). Cells were observed by fluorescence microscopy. B) Cells were transfected as in A and Western blot analysis was performed with β-catenin or AR antibody. Tubulin is shown as an internal loading control.

FIG. 20 shows A) Determination of the IC50 of C3 in prostate cancer cells. To determine the IC₅₀ for the β-catenin/Wnt-responsive reporter, cells were cotransfected with β-galactosidase (LacZ) and a constitutively active S37A stabilized β-catenin mutant construct together with the reporter construct, STF16-LUC. To determine the IC₅₀ for the AR-responsive construct, cells were cotransfected with LacZ and the AR responsive reporter construct, ARE-LUC. Luciferase activity in the presence of varying concentrations of C3 was analyzed by normalization to LacZ expression. B) AR overexpression circumvents C3 repression of AR-responsive transcription. LNCaP cells were cotransfected with 0.1 μg LacZ and 0.2 μg of the AR responsive reporter construct, ARE-LUC, together with 0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 μg of an AR expression vector. Cells were androgen-deprived 24 hr after transfection, and 0.1 nM R1881 was added with or without 3 μM C3 for 24 hr. Luciferase activity was normalized to LacZ expression.

FIG. 21 shows that C3 inhibits AR and β-catenin interaction and β-catenin recruitment to the PSA enhancer. A) LNCaP cells were androgen-deprived for 48 hr and then treated with vehicle or 10 nM R1881 with or without 20 μM C3 for 4 hr. Nuclear extracts were immunoprecipitated with anti-AR antibody or normal mouse IgG followed by immunoblotting (IB) with indicated antibodies. B) LNCaP cells were hormone deprived for 3 days and then treated with vehicle or 100 nM DHT with or without 20 μM C3 for 2, 4 or 16 hr. Cells were crosslinked and chromatin was immunoprecipitated with β-catenin or IgG antibody. The precipitated DNA of the PSA enhancer was analyzed by Q-PCR. The results are presented as a percentage of input.

FIG. 22 shows that prostate cancer spheres express stemness markers. LNCaP and LNCaP-abl cells were cultured in non-adherent plates supplemented with EGF and bFGF for 14 days. RNA was extracted and subjected to cDNA synthesis. Q-PCR was used to analyze the relative mRNA levels of indicated stemness marker genes in spheres compared to cells cultured in adherent condition in 10% FBS RPMI media.

FIG. 23 shows that C3 inhibits tumor growth in a xenograft model of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Nude mice bearing LNCaP-abl tumors were treated with vehicle or C3 daily (100 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection for the first one week and intratumor injection for the rest of the experiment). Tumor volumes were measured twice weekly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION General Introduction

As indicated above, the Wnt pathway is one of a core set of evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways that regulates many aspects of metazoan development. Misregulation or aberrant regulation of the Wnt pathway can lead to adverse effects as demonstrated by the causal relationship identified between mutations in several components of the pathway and tumorigenesis of the liver, colon, breast and the skin [Wang et al., Cancer Res, 2008. 68(23): 9918-27; Beildeck et al., Exp Cell Res, 2010. 316(11): 1763-72; Yu et al., Prostate, 2009. 69(3): 249-62]. Activating mutations of beta-catenin have also been found in around 5% of prostate cancer [Chesire et al., The Prostate 45, 323 (2000); Voeller et al., Cancer research 58, 2520 (1998)]. Mutation of APC, for example, has been found in 14% of prostate cancer in one study [Gerstein et al., Genes, chromosomes & cancer 34, 9 (2002)] and 3% of prostate cancer in another [Watanabe et al., Japanese journal of clinical oncology 26, 77 (1996)]. One of the most important effectors of the Wnt pathway is encoded by β-catenin (β-cat)/armadillo (arm). Induction by Wnt ligands leads to stabilization of cytosolic β-cat, which subsequently translocates into the nucleus to activate target genes that regulate many aspects of cell proliferation, growth, differentiation and death.

Since Catenin Responsive Transcription (CRT) has been implicated in the genesis of many cancers, this effector step of the pathway provides a good target for developing therapeutics that could modulate Wnt pathway activity, and more particularly, the nuclear activity of β-cat. Notably, the family of compounds disclosed herein comprises inhibitors that specifically target the activity of the signaling pool of β-catenin.

As indicated herein above, aberrant activation of Wnt signaling has been linked to or causally related with a variety of cancers, including: prostate cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer (e.g., melanoma), liver cancer (e.g., hepatocellular cancer and hepatoblastoma), head and neck cancer, lung cancer (e.g., non-small cell lung cancer), gastric cancer, mesothelioma, Barrett's esophagus, synovial sarcoma, cervical cancer, endometrial ovarian cancer, Wilm's tumor, bladder cancer and leukemia. See, for example, Luu et al. (2004, Current Cancer Drug Targets 4:653), Lepourcelet et al. (2004, Cancer Cell 5:91), Barker and Clevers (2006, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery 5:997), and Watanabe and Dai (2011, Proc Natl Acad Sci 108:5929), the entire content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In that a strong link has not been established between mutations in the Wnt pathway and prostate cancer, it is informative to review certain aspects of prostate development and prostate cancer development, progression, and treatment to provide insight as to various signaling pathways known to impact this organ. During development, androgens act through the Androgen Receptor (AR) to promote both prostate growth and differentiation. Indeed, maintenance of the prostate organ requires continuous AR and androgen signaling, without which, the prostate regresses. For this reason, aggressive prostate cancer is typically treated with agents that separately block androgen synthesis and inhibit the action of the androgen receptor. However, despite initial regression many cancers recur, making the treatment of what is then called castration-resistant prostate cancer the major challenge in the field. A breakthrough in understanding recurring, resistant disease was the finding that prostate cancer cells become addicted to the AR pathway, and up-regulation of the AR is the major determinate in aggressive castration-resistant prostate cancer [Chen et al., Nat Med, 2004. 10(1): 33-39]. In addition, recent studies show that even under conditions of androgen ablation therapy, prostate cancer cells are able to synthesize androgens locally, through upregulation of androgen synthetic enzymes that direct de novo androgen synthesis or convert adrenal androgens to higher affinity ligands, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone [Titus et al., Clin Cancer Res, 2005. 11(13): 4653-7; Stanbrough et al., Cancer Res, 2006. 66(5): 2815-25; Locke et al., Cancer Res, 2008. 68(15): 6407-15; Montgomery et al., Cancer Res, 2008. 68(11): 4447-54]. The versatility of prostate cancer in evading normal growth controls through altered AR function also encompasses additional mechanisms including generation of novel androgen regulated fusion proteins such as TMPRSS2/ERG [Tomlins et al., Science, 2005. 310(5748): 644-8], production of constitutively active AR splice variants [Dehm et al., Cancer Res, 2008. 68(13): 5469-77] and selection for activating mutations in AR in response to treatment [Steinkamp et al., Cancer Res, 2009. 69(10): 4434-42]. Thus, treatment approaches to develop more effective drugs include agents that block androgen binding to the AR (AR antagonists) such as the MDV3100 compound [Tran et al., Science, 2009. 324(5928): 787-90; Scher et al., Lancet, 2010. 375(9724): 1437-46] or inhibit synthetic enzymes in the androgen synthesis pathway such as abiraterone acetate [Attard et al., Cancer Res, 2009. 69(12): 4937-40]. An additional promising compound blocks the N-terminal transcriptional regulatory domain of the AR [Andersen et al., Cancer Cell, 2010. 17(6): 535-46]. Despite the promise of these and other reagents, they extend life by only by 4-5 months [de Bono et al., N Engl J Med, 2011. 364(21): 1995-2005] and looking forward, the hope is that a variety of agents can be used synergistically or consecutively to further improve life expectancy.

In the interest of transforming this hope into reality, the present inventors have investigate further the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in prostate cancer by testing small molecule inhibitors of nuclear β-catenin to evaluate to evaluate their ability to repress prostate cancer growth by inhibiting AR function. As described herein, this approach takes advantage of the fact that the AR interacts with, and is transcriptionally regulated by β-catenin. As described herein, β-catenin is an effector of the Wnt family of proteins, an evolutionarily conserved group of signaling molecules that regulates developmental and biological processes [Wodarz et al., Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol, 1998. 14: 59-88; Miller et al., Oncogene, 1999. 18(55): 7860-72; Polakis, Genes Dev, 2000. 14(15): 1837-51]. Wnt signaling results in stabilization and activation of β-catenin, which translocates to the nucleus and together with the T-cell Factor (TCF) family of transcription factors, regulates expression of target genes. Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been linked to a number of human cancers [Miyoshi et al., Breast Cancer Res, 2003. 5(2): 63-8; Moon et al., Nat Rev Genet, 2004. 5(9): 691-701] including prostate cancer [Wang et al., Cancer Res, 2008. 68(23): 9918-27; Beildeck et al., Exp Cell Res, 2010. 316(11): 1763-72; Yu et al., Prostate, 2009. 69(3): 249-62].

Seeking to take advantage of the synergy between the AR and β-catenin pathways, the present inventors have investigated the therapeutic efficacy of β-catenin inhibitors as putative prostate cancer agents. The synergy of these pathways occurs via direct and indirect interactions. In sum, the AR binds β-catenin directly to stimulate AR mediated gene transcription [Song et al., J Biol Chem, 2005. 280(45): 37853-67], and androgen causes nuclear translocation of β-catenin in cells that express AR [Mulholland et al., J Biol Chem, 2002. 277(20): 17933-43]. Importantly, the AR gene itself is a target of nuclear β-catenin action through TCF binding sites in the AR promoter [Yang et al., Oncogene, 2006. 25(24): 3436-44]. Further, crosstalk between the AR and β-catenin pathways occurs in castration-resistant prostate cancer [Wang et al., Cancer Res, 2008. 68(23): 9918-27]. Therefore, in theory, β-catenin inhibitors would modulate AR and its target genes as well as direct targets of β-catenin such as c-myc [He et al., Science, 1998. 281(5382): 1509-12], which acts as an oncogene in prostate cancer [Ellwood-Yen et al., Cancer Cell, 2003. 4(3): 223-38; Zhang et al., Prostate, 2000. 43(4): 278-85; Koh et al., Am J Pathol, 2011. 178(4): 1824-34].

As described herein, the present inventors tested the effects of iCRT3, iCRT5 and iCRT14 on prostate cancer cell growth with more extensive analysis performed with iCRT3 due to its specific and dramatic inhibition of prostate cancer cell growth. For simplicity, iCRT3 is referred to herein as C3 with respect to the Examples and drawings pertaining to prostate cancer cell growth. C3 inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin pathway as measured by the β-catenin-responsive luciferase reporter (dTF12) with an IC₅₀ of 8.2 nM [Gonsalves et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2011. 108(15): 5954-63]. Results presented herein reveal that treatment of prostate cancer cells with C3 results in growth inhibition, diminished AR protein levels, and decreased transcription of AR target genes important in progression of androgen independent cells through the cell cycle [Wang et al., Cell, 2009. 138(2): 245-56]. C3 treatment also results in diminished levels of the c-myc oncogene, a well-characterized Wnt target and prostate cancer oncogene. These results demonstrate that C3 is an important new lead in the development of prostate cancer therapeutics.

An additional important aspect of the use of CRT inhibitors is their potential to target cancer stem cells. Recent studies have shown that small subpopulations of cancer cells, termed “cancer stem cells (CSCs)” or “tumor-initiating cells” based on their ability to self-renew as well as differentiate to a daughter cell type, play a critical role in both initiation and maintenance of tumors. It has been suggested that these cells are resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiation, making it important to develop new therapeutic approaches to selectively target them [Chandler et al., Stem Cell Res Ther, 2010. 1(2): p. 13; Korkaya et al., Nat Cell Biol, 2010. 12(5): 419-21], perhaps by interfering with cell specific signaling pathways that regulate self-renewal. In prostate cancer, it is possible that CSCs survive after androgen ablation therapy, causing castration-resistant disease [Lawson et al., J Clin Invest, 2007. 117(8): 2044-50]. Growing evidence shows that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is highly active in CSCs, suggesting an important role in stem cell self-renewal [Bisson et al., Cell Res, 2009. 19(6): 683-97; Korkaya et al., PLoS Biol, 2009. 7(6): e1000121]. Together, these data suggest that small molecules such as C3 may target cancer stem cells or tumor initiating cells to inhibit tumor growth.

The physical and functional interaction of AR and β-catenin has been described in a number of reports [Song et al., J Biol Chem, 2005. 280(45): 37853-67; Mulholland et al., J Biol Chem, 2002. 277(20): 17933-43; Pawlowski et al., J Biol Chem, 2002. 277(23): 20702-10; Yang et al., J Biol Chem, 2002. 277(13): 11336-44] along with characterization of the interaction of β-catenin, TIF2/GRIP1 and AR [Song et al., J Biol Chem, 2005. 280(45): 37853-67; Li et al., J Biol Chem, 2004. 279(6): 4212-20]. Thus, while the idea of using small molecule inhibitors of β-catenin/TCF to inhibit both AR and β-catenin targets in prostate cancer may not be new, to the present inventors' knowledge, the proof of principle testing of such small molecules has not been performed. C3 interferes with β-catenin and TCF4 interaction [Gonsalves et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2011. 108(15): 5954-63]. The present inventors show herein that C3 also interferes with AR and β-catenin interaction. Importantly, C3 treatment of androgen insensitive cell lines, which serve as a model of castration resistant disease, exhibit reduced AR mRNA and protein levels, resulting in decreased expression of genes involved in AR-dependent cell division [Wang et al., Cell, 2009. 138(2): 245-56], inhibition of cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. C3 also decreases levels of c-myc, a prostate oncogene [Ellwood-Yen et al., Cancer Cell, 2003. 4(3): 223-38; Zhang et al., Prostate, 2000. 43(4): 278-85; Iwata et al., PLoS One, 2010. 5(2): e9427] and β-catenin target gene, which might otherwise be challenging to inhibit. The idea that a single molecule could interfere specifically with multiple pathways dangerously upregulated in prostate cancer is an exciting multi-pronged approach to treatment.

DEFINITIONS

The following terms are intended to have the meanings presented therewith below and are useful in understanding the description and intended scope of the present invention.

When describing the invention, which may include compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods of using such compounds and compositions, the following terms, if present, have the following meanings unless otherwise indicated. It should also be understood that when described herein any of the moieties defined forth below may be substituted with a variety of substituents, and that the respective definitions are intended to include such substituted moieties within their scope as set out below. Unless otherwise stated, the term “substituted” is to be defined as set out below. It should be further understood that the terms “groups” and “radicals” can be considered interchangeable when used herein.

The articles “a” and “an” may be used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e. at least one) of the grammatical objects of the article. By way of example “an analogue” means one analogue or more than one analogue.

‘Acyl’ or ‘Alkanoyl’ refers to a radical —C(O)R²⁰, where R²⁰ is hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkylmethyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl as defined herein. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, formyl, acetyl, cyclohexylcarbonyl, cyclohexylmethylcarbonyl, benzoyl and benzylcarbonyl. Exemplary ‘acyl’ groups are —C(O)H, —C(O)—C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C(O)—(CH₂)_(A)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4.

‘Substituted Acyl’ or ‘Substituted Alkanoyl’ refers to a radical —C(O)R²¹, wherein R²¹ is independently

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, each of         which is substituted with unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Acylamino’ refers to a radical —NR²²C(O)R²³, where R²² is hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl and R²³ is hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, as defined herein. Exemplary ‘acylamino’ include, but are not limited to, formylamino, acetylamino, cyclohexylcarbonylamino, cyclohexylmethyl-carbonylamino, benzoylamino and benzylcarbonylamino Particular exemplary ‘acylamino’ groups are —NR²⁴C(O)—C₁-C₈ alkyl, —NR²⁴C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —NR²⁴C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —NR²⁴C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —NR²⁴C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4, and each R²⁴ independently represents H or C₁-C₈ alkyl.

‘Substituted Acylamino’ refers to a radical —NR²⁵C(O)R²⁶, wherein:

R²⁵ is independently

-   -   H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, each of         which is substituted with unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy; and

R²⁶ is independently

-   -   H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, each of         which is substituted with unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxyl;

provided at least one of R²⁵ and R²⁶ is other than H.

‘Acyloxy’ refers to a radical —OC(O)R²⁷, where R²⁷ is hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkylmethyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl as defined herein. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, formyl, acetyl, cyclohexylcarbonyl, cyclohexylmethylcarbonyl, benzoyl and benzylcarbonyl. Exemplary ‘acyl’ groups are —C(O)H, —C(O)—C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C(O)—(CH₂)_(A)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —C(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4.

‘Substituted Acyloxy’ refers to a radical —OC(O)R²⁸, wherein R²⁸ is independently

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl, each of         which is substituted with unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Alkoxy’ refers to the group —OR²⁹ where R²⁹ is C₁-C₈ alkyl. Particular alkoxy groups are methoxy, ethoxy, n-propoxy, isopropoxy, n-butoxy, tert-butoxy, sec-butoxy, n-pentoxy, n-hexoxy, and 1,2-dimethylbutoxy. Particular alkoxy groups are lower alkoxy, i.e. with between 1 and 6 carbon atoms. Further particular alkoxy groups have between 1 and 4 carbon atoms.

‘Substituted alkoxy’ refers to an alkoxy group substituted with one or more of those groups recited in the definition of “substituted” herein, and particularly refers to an alkoxy group having 1 or more substituents, for instance from 1 to 5 substituents, and particularly from 1 to 3 substituents, in particular 1 substituent, selected from the group consisting of amino, substituted amino, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aryloxy, carboxyl, cyano, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, halogen, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, hydroxyl, nitro, thioalkoxy, thioaryloxy, thiol, alkyl-S(O)—, aryl-S(O)—, alkyl-S(O)₂— and aryl-S(O)₂—. Exemplary ‘substituted alkoxy’ groups are —O—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —O—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —O—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —O—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4 and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy. Particular exemplary ‘substituted alkoxy’ groups are OCF₃, OCH₂CF₃, OCH₂Ph, OCH₂-cyclopropyl, OCH₂CH₂OH, and OCH₂CH₂NMe₂.

‘Alkoxycarbonyl’ refers to a radical —C(O)—OR³⁰ where R³⁰ represents an C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkylalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkylalkyl, aralkyl, or 5-10 membered heteroarylalkyl as defined herein. Exemplary “alkoxycarbonyl” groups are C(O)O—C₁-C₈ alkyl, —C(O)O—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —C(O)O—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —C(O)O—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —C(O)O—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 1 to 4.

‘Substituted Alkoxycarbonyl’ refers to a radical —C(O)—OR³¹ where R³¹ represents:

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkylalkyl, or 4-10         membered heterocycloalkylalkyl, each of which is substituted         with halo, substituted or unsubstituted amino, or hydroxy; or     -   C₆-C₁₀ aralkyl, or 5-10 membered heteroarylalkyl, each of which         is substituted with unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxyl.

‘Aryloxycarbonyl’ refers to a radical —C(O)—OR³² where R³² represents an C₆-C₁₀ aryl, as defined herein. Exemplary “aryloxycarbonyl” groups is —C(O)O—(C₆-C₁₀ aryl).

‘Substituted Aryloxycarbonyl’ refers to a radical —C(O)—OR³³ where R³³ represents

-   -   C₆-C₁₀ aryl, substituted with unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxyl.

‘Heteroaryloxycarbonyl’ refers to a radical —C(O)—OR³⁴ where R³⁴ represents a 5-10 membered heteroaryl, as defined herein. An exemplary “aryloxycarbonyl” group is —C(O)O-(5-10 membered heteroaryl).

‘Substituted Heteroaryloxycarbonyl’ refers to a radical —C(O)—OR³⁵ where R³⁵ represents:

-   -   5-10 membered heteroaryl, substituted with unsubstituted C₁-C₄         alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted         C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxyl.

“Alkoxycarbonylamino” refers to the group —NR³⁶C(O)OR³⁷, where R³⁶ is hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkylmethyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl as defined herein, and R³⁷ is C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkylmethyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl or heteroarylalkyl as defined herein.

‘Alkyl’ means straight or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. Particular alkyl has 1 to 12 carbon atoms. More particular is lower alkyl which has 1 to 6 carbon atoms. A further particular group has 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Exemplary straight chained groups include methyl, ethyl n-propyl, and n-butyl. Branched means that one or more lower alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, propyl or butyl is attached to a linear alkyl chain, exemplary branched chain groups include isopropyl, iso-butyl, t-butyl and isoamyl.

‘Substituted alkyl’ refers to an alkyl group as defined above substituted with one or more of those groups recited in the definition of “substituted” herein, and particularly refers to an alkyl group having 1 or more substituents, for instance from 1 to 5 substituents, and particularly from 1 to 3 substituents, in particular 1 substituent, selected from the group consisting of acyl, acylamino, acyloxy (—O-acyl or —OC(O)R²⁰), alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino (—NR-alkoxycarbonyl or —NH—C(O)—OR²⁷), amino, substituted amino, aminocarbonyl (carbamoyl or amido or —C(O)—NR″₂), aminocarbonylamino (—NR″-C(O)—NR″₂), aminocarbonyloxy (—O—C(O)—NR″₂), aminosulfonyl, sulfonylamino, aryl, aryloxy, azido, carboxyl, cyano, cycloalkyl, halogen, hydroxy, heteroaryl, nitro, thiol, —S-alkyl, —S-aryl, —S(O)-alkyl, —S(O)-aryl, —S(O)₂-alkyl, and —S(O)₂-aryl. In a particular embodiment ‘substituted alkyl’ refers to a C₁-C₈ alkyl group substituted with halo, cyano, nitro, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, azido, —NR′″SO₂R″, —SO₂NR″R′″, —C(O)R″, —C(O)OR″, —OC(O)R″, —NR′″(O)R″, —C(O)NR″R′″, —NR″R′″, or —(CR′″R)_(m)OR′″; wherein each R″ is independently selected from H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4 and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy. Each of R′″ and R″″ independently represents H or C₁-C₈ alkyl.

“Alkylene” refers to divalent saturated alkene radical groups having 1 to 11 carbon atoms and more particularly 1 to 6 carbon atoms which can be straight-chained or branched. This term is exemplified by groups such as methylene (—CH₂—), ethylene (—CH₂CH₂—), the propylene isomers (e.g., —CH₂CH₂CH₂— and —CH(CH₃)CH₂—) and the like.

‘Substituted alkylene’ refers to those groups recited in the definition of “substituted” herein, and particularly refers to an alkylene group having 1 or more substituents, for instance from 1 to 5 substituents, and particularly from 1 to 3 substituents, selected from the group consisting of acyl, acylamino, acyloxy, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino, amino, substituted amino, aminocarbonyl, amino-carbonylamino, aminocarbonyloxy, aryl, aryloxy, azido, carboxyl, cyano, halogen, hydroxyl, keto, nitro, thioalkoxy, substituted thioalkoxy, thioaryloxy, thioketo, thiol, alkyl-S(O)—, aryl-S(O)—, alkyl-S(O)₂— and aryl-S(O)₂—.

“Alkenyl” refers to monovalent olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbyl groups preferably having 2 to 11 carbon atoms, particularly, from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, and more particularly, from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, which can be straight-chained or branched and having at least 1 and particularly from 1 to 2 sites of olefinic unsaturation. Particular alkenyl groups include ethenyl (—CH═CH₂), n-propenyl (—CH₂CH═CH₂), isopropenyl (—C(CH₃)═CH₂), vinyl and substituted vinyl, and the like.

“Substituted alkenyl” refers to those groups recited in the definition of “substituted” herein, and particularly refers to an alkenyl group having 1 or more substituents, for instance from 1 to 5 substituents, and particularly from 1 to 3 substituents, selected from the group consisting of acyl, acylamino, acyloxy, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino, amino, substituted amino, aminocarbonyl, aminocarbonylamino, aminocarbonyloxy, aryl, aryloxy, azido, carboxyl, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, halogen, hydroxyl, keto, nitro, thioalkoxy, substituted thioalkoxy, thioaryloxy, thioketo, thiol, alkyl-S(O)—, aryl-S(O)—, alkyl-S(O)₂— and aryl-S(O)₂—.

“Alkenylene” refers to divalent olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbyl groups particularly having up to about 11 carbon atoms and more particularly 2 to 6 carbon atoms which can be straight-chained or branched and having at least 1 and particularly from 1 to 2 sites of olefinic unsaturation. This term is exemplified by groups such as ethenylene (—CH═CH—), the propenylene isomers (e.g., —CH═CHCH₂— and —C(CH₃)═CH— and —CH═C(CH₃)—) and the like.

“Alkynyl” refers to acetylenically or alkynically unsaturated hydrocarbyl groups particularly having 2 to 11 carbon atoms, and more particularly 2 to 6 carbon atoms which can be straight-chained or branched and having at least 1 and particularly from 1 to 2 sites of alkynyl unsaturation. Particular non-limiting examples of alkynyl groups include acetylenic, ethynyl (—C≡CH), propargyl (—CH₂C≡CH), and the like.

“Substituted alkynyl” refers to those groups recited in the definition of “substituted” herein, and particularly refers to an alkynyl group having 1 or more substituents, for instance from 1 to 5 substituents, and particularly from 1 to 3 substituents, selected from the group consisting of acyl, acylamino, acyloxy, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino, amino, substituted amino, aminocarbonyl, aminocarbonylamino, aminocarbonyloxy, aryl, aryloxy, azido, carboxyl, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, halogen, hydroxyl, keto, nitro, thioalkoxy, substituted thioalkoxy, thioaryloxy, thioketo, thiol, alkyl-S(O)—, aryl-S(O)—, alkyl-S(O)₂— and aryl-S(O)₂—.

‘Amino’ refers to the radical —NH₂.

‘Substituted amino’ refers to an amino group substituted with one or more of those groups recited in the definition of ‘substituted’ herein, and particularly refers to the group —N(R³⁸)₂ where each R³⁸ is independently selected from:

-   -   hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl,         4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, or C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl),         —(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl) or —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered         heterocycloalkyl) wherein t is an integer between 0 and 8, each         of which is substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy; or     -   both R³⁸ groups are joined to form an alkylene group.         When both R³⁸ groups are hydrogen, —N(R³⁸)₂ is an amino group.         Exemplary ‘substituted amino’ groups are —NR³⁹—C₁-C₈ alkyl,         —NR³⁹—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —NR³⁹—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered         heteroaryl), —NR³⁹—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and         —NR³⁹—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an         integer from 0 to 4, each R³⁹ independently represents H or         C₁-C₈ alkyl; and any alkyl groups present, may themselves be         substituted by halo, substituted or unsubstituted amino, or         hydroxy; and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or         heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted         by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl,         or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy. For the avoidance         of doubt the term “substituted amino” includes the groups         alkylamino, substituted alkylamino, alkylarylamino, substituted         alkylarylamino, arylamino, substituted arylamino, dialkylamino         and substituted dialkylamino as defined below.

‘Alkylamino’ refers to the group —NHR⁴⁰, wherein R⁴⁰ is C₁-C₈ alkyl;

‘Substituted Alkylamino’ refers to the group —NHR⁴¹, wherein R⁴¹ is C₁-C₈ alkyl; and the alkyl group is substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted amino, hydroxy, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, aralkyl or heteroaralkyl; and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Alkylarylamino’ refers to the group —NR⁴²R⁴³, wherein R⁴² is aryl and R⁴³ is C₁-C₈ alkyl.

‘Substituted Alkylarylamino’ refers to the group —NR⁴⁴R⁴⁵, wherein R⁴⁴ is aryl and R⁴⁵ is C₁-C₈ alkyl; and the alkyl group is substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted amino, hydroxy, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, aralkyl or heteroaralkyl; and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, cyano, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Arylamino’ means a radical —NHR⁴⁶ where R⁴⁶ is selected from C₆-C₁₀ aryl and 5-10 membered heteroaryl as defined herein.

‘Substituted Arylamino’ refers to the group —NHR⁴⁷, wherein R⁴⁷ is independently selected from C₆-C₁₀ aryl and 5-10 membered heteroaryl; and any aryl or heteroaryl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, cyano, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Dialkylamino’ refers to the group —NR⁴⁸R⁴⁹, wherein each of R⁴⁸ and R⁴⁹ are independently selected from C₁-C₈ alkyl.

‘Substituted Dialkylamino’ refers to the group —NR⁵⁰R⁵¹, wherein each of R⁵⁹ and R⁵¹ are independently selected from C₁-C₈ alkyl; and at least one of the alkyl groups is independently substituted with halo, hydroxy, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, aralkyl or heteroaralkyl; and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁₋₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Diarylamino’ refers to the group —NR⁵²R⁵³, wherein each of R⁵² and R⁵³ are independently selected from C₆-C₁₀ aryl.

“Aminosulfonyl” or “Sulfonamide” refers to the radical —S(O₂)NH₂.

“Substituted aminosulfonyl” or “substituted sulfonamide” refers to a radical such as —S(O₂)N(R⁵⁴)₂ wherein each R⁵⁴⁸ is independently selected from:

-   -   H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered         heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered         heteroaryl, and heteroaralkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl, each of         which is substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy;         provided that at least one R⁵⁴ is other than H.

Exemplary ‘substituted aminosulfonyl’ or ‘substituted sulfonamide’ groups are —S(O₂)N(R⁵⁵)—C₁-C₈ alkyl, —S(O₂)N(R⁵⁵)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —S(O₂)N(R⁵⁵)—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —S(O₂)N(R⁵⁵)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —S(O₂)N(R⁵⁵)—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4; each R⁵⁵ independently represents H or C₁-C₈ alkyl; and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Aralkyl’ or ‘arylalkyl’ refers to an alkyl group, as defined above, substituted with one or more aryl groups, as defined above. Particular aralkyl or arylalkyl groups are alkyl groups substituted with one aryl group.

‘Substituted Aralkyl’ or ‘substituted arylalkyl’ refers to an alkyl group, as defined above, substituted with one or more aryl groups; and at least one of the aryl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, cyano, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Aryl’ refers to a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group derived by the removal of one hydrogen atom from a single carbon atom of a parent aromatic ring system. In particular aryl refers to an aromatic ring structure, mono-cyclic or poly-cyclic that includes from 5 to 12 ring members, more usually 6 to 10. Where the aryl group is a monocyclic ring system it preferentially contains 6 carbon atoms. Typical aryl groups include, but are not limited to, groups derived from aceanthrylene, acenaphthylene, acephenanthrylene, anthracene, azulene, benzene, chrysene, coronene, fluoranthene, fluorene, hexacene, hexaphene, hexylene, as-indacene, s-indacene, indane, indene, naphthalene, octacene, octaphene, octalene, ovalene, penta-2,4-diene, pentacene, pentalene, pentaphene, perylene, phenalene, phenanthrene, picene, pleiadene, pyrene, pyranthrene, rubicene, triphenylene and trinaphthalene. Particularly aryl groups include phenyl, naphthyl, indenyl, and tetrahydronaphthyl.

‘Substituted Aryl’ refers to an aryl group substituted with one or more of those groups recited in the definition of ‘substituted’ herein, and particularly refers to an aryl group that may optionally be substituted with 1 or more substituents, for instance from 1 to 5 substituents, particularly 1 to 3 substituents, in particular 1 substituent. Particularly, ‘Substituted Aryl’ refers to an aryl group substituted with one or more of groups selected from halo, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, cyano, hydroxy, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, and amino.

Examples of representative substituted aryls include the following

In these formulae one of R⁵⁶ and R⁵⁷ may be hydrogen and at least one of R⁵⁶ and R⁵⁷ is each independently selected from C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, alkanoyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, heteroaryloxy, alkylamino, arylamino, heteroarylamino, NR⁵⁸COR⁵⁹, NR⁵⁸SOR⁵⁹NR⁵⁸SO₂R⁵⁹, COOalkyl, COOaryl, CONR⁵⁸R⁵⁹, CONR⁵⁸OR⁵⁹, NR⁵⁸R⁵⁹, SO₂NR⁵⁸R⁵⁹, S-alkyl, SOalkyl, SO₂alkyl, Saryl, SOaryl, SO₂aryl; or R⁵⁶ and R⁵⁷ may be joined to form a cyclic ring (saturated or unsaturated) from 5 to 8 atoms, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms selected from the group N, O or S. R⁶⁰, and R⁶¹ are independently hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, substituted aryl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl.

“Fused Aryl” refers to an aryl having two of its ring carbon in common with a second aryl ring or with an aliphatic ring.

‘Arylalkyloxy’ refers to an —O-alkylaryl radical where alkylaryl is as defined herein.

‘Substituted Arylalkyloxy’ refers to an —O-alkylaryl radical where alkylaryl is as defined herein; and any aryl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, cyano, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁₋₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Azido’ refers to the radical —N₃.

‘Carbamoyl or amido’ refers to the radical —C(O)NH₂.

‘Substituted Carbamoyl or substituted amido’ refers to the radical —C(O)N(R⁶²)₂ wherein each R⁶² is independently

-   -   H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered         heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered         heteroaryl, and heteroaralkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl, each of         which is substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy;         provided that at least one R⁶² is other than H.         Exemplary ‘Substituted Carbamoyl’ groups are —C(O)NR⁶⁴—C₁-C₈         alkyl, —C(O)NR⁶⁴—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —C(O)N⁶⁴—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10         membered heteroaryl), —C(O)NR⁶⁴—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl),         and —C(O)NR⁶⁴—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein         t is an integer from 0 to 4, each R⁶⁴ independently represents H         or C₁-C₈ alkyl and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or         heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted         by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl,         or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Carboxy’ refers to the radical —C(O)OH.

‘Cycloalky’ refers to cyclic non-aromatic hydrocarbyl groups having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms. Such cycloalkyl groups include, by way of example, single ring structures such as cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, and cyclooctyl.

‘Substituted cycloalkyl’ refers to a cycloalkyl group as defined above substituted with one or more of those groups recited in the definition of ‘substituted’ herein, and particularly refers to a cycloalkyl group having 1 or more substituents, for instance from 1 to 5 substituents, and particularly from 1 to 3 substituents, in particular 1 substituent

‘Cyano’ refers to the radical —CN.

‘Halo’ or ‘halogen’ refers to fluoro (F), chloro (Cl), bromo (Br) and iodo (I). Particular halo groups are either fluoro or chloro.

‘Hetero’ when used to describe a compound or a group present on a compound means that one or more carbon atoms in the compound or group have been replaced by a nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur heteroatom. Hetero may be applied to any of the hydrocarbyl groups described above such as alkyl, e.g. heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, e.g. heterocycloalkyl, aryl, e.g. heteroaryl, cycloalkenyl, e.g. cycloheteroalkenyl, and the like having from 1 to 5, and particularly from 1 to 3 heteroatoms. Heteroaryl means an aromatic ring structure, mono-cyclic or polycyclic, that includes one or more heteroatoms and 5 to 12 ring members, more usually 5 to 10 ring members. The heteroaryl group can be, for example, a five membered or six membered monocyclic ring or a bicyclic structure formed from fused five and six membered rings or two fused six membered rings or, by way of a further example, two fused five membered rings. Each ring may contain up to four heteroatoms typically selected from nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen. Typically the heteroaryl ring will contain up to 4 heteroatoms, more typically up to 3 heteroatoms, more usually up to 2, for example a single heteroatom. In one embodiment, the heteroaryl ring contains at least one ring nitrogen atom. The nitrogen atoms in the heteroaryl rings can be basic, as in the case of an imidazole or pyridine, or essentially non-basic as in the case of an indole or pyrrole nitrogen. In general the number of basic nitrogen atoms present in the heteroaryl group, including any amino group substituents of the ring, will be less than five. Examples of five membered monocyclic heteroaryl groups include but are not limited to pyrrole, furan, thiophene, imidazole, furazan, oxazole, oxadiazole, oxatriazole, isoxazole, thiazole, isothiazole, pyrazole, triazole and tetrazole groups. Examples of six membered monocyclic heteroaryl groups include but are not limited to pyridine, pyrazine, pyridazine, pyrimidine and triazine. Particular examples of bicyclic heteroaryl groups containing a five membered ring fused to another five membered ring include but are not limited to imidazothiazole and imidazoimidazole. Particular examples of bicyclic heteroaryl groups containing a six membered ring fused to a five membered ring include but are not limited to benzfuran, benzthiophene, benzimidazole, benzoxazole, isobenzoxazole, benzisoxazole, benzthiazole, benzisothiazole, isobenzofuran, indole, isoindole, isoindolone, indolizine, indoline, isoindoline, purine (e.g., adenine, guanine), indazole, pyrazolopyrimidine, triazolopyrimidine, benzodioxole and pyrazolopyridine groups. Particular examples of bicyclic heteroaryl groups containing two fused six membered rings include but are not limited to quinoline, isoquinoline, chroman, thiochroman, chromene, isochromene, chroman, isochroman, benzodioxan, quinolizine, benzoxazine, benzodiazine, pyridopyridine, quinoxaline, quinazoline, cinnoline, phthalazine, naphthyridine and pteridine groups. Particular heteroaryl groups are those derived from thiophene, pyrrole, benzothiophene, benzofuran, indole, pyridine, quinoline, imidazole, oxazole and pyrazine.

Examples of representative heteroaryls include the following:

wherein each Y is selected from carbonyl, N, NR⁶⁵, O and S; and R⁶⁵ is independently hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, and 5-10 membered heteroaryl.

Examples of representative aryl having hetero atoms containing substitution include the following:

wherein each W is selected from C(R⁶⁶)₂, NR⁶⁶, O and S; and each Y is selected from carbonyl, NR⁶⁶, O and S; and R⁶⁶ is independently hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, and 5-10 membered heteroaryl.

As used herein, the term ‘heterocycloalkyl’ refers to a 4-10 membered, stable heterocyclic non-aromatic ring and/or including rings containing one or more heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S, fused thereto. A fused heterocyclic ring system may include carbocyclic rings and need only include one heterocyclic ring. Examples of heterocyclic rings include, but are not limited to, morpholine, piperidine (e.g. 1-piperidinyl, 2-piperidinyl, 3-piperidinyl and 4-piperidinyl), pyrrolidine (e.g. 1-pyrrolidinyl, 2-pyrrolidinyl and 3-pyrrolidinyl), pyrrolidone, pyran (2H-pyran or 4H-pyran), dihydrothiophene, dihydropyran, dihydrofuran, dihydrothiazole, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrothiophene, dioxane, tetrahydropyran (e.g. 4-tetrahydro pyranyl), imidazoline, imidazolidinone, oxazoline, thiazoline, 2-pyrazoline, pyrazolidine, piperazine, and N-alkyl piperazines such as N-methyl piperazine. Further examples include thiomorpholine and its S-oxide and S,S-dioxide (particularly thiomorpholine). Still further examples include azetidine, piperidone, piperazone, and N-alkyl piperidines such as N-methyl piperidine. Particular examples of heterocycloalkyl groups are shown in the following illustrative examples:

wherein each W is selected from CR⁶⁷, C(R⁶⁷)₂, NR⁶⁷, O and S; and each Y is selected from NR⁶⁷, O and S; and R⁶⁷ is independently hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, These heterocycloalkyl rings may be optionally substituted with one or more groups selected from the group consisting of acyl, acylamino, acyloxy, alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino, amino, substituted amino, aminocarbonyl (carbamoyl or amido), aminocarbonylamino, aminosulfonyl, sulfonylamino, aryl, aryloxy, azido, carboxyl, cyano, cycloalkyl, halogen, hydroxy, keto, nitro, thiol, —S-alkyl, —S-aryl, —S(O)-alkyl, —S(O)-aryl, —S(O)₂-alkyl, and —S(O)₂-aryl. Substituting groups include carbonyl or thiocarbonyl which provide, for example, lactam and urea derivatives.

‘Hydroxy’ refers to the radical —OH.

‘Nitro’ refers to the radical —NO₂.

‘Substituted’ refers to a group in which one or more hydrogen atoms are each independently replaced with the same or different substituent(s). Typical substituents may be selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   halogen, —R⁶⁸, —O⁻, ═O, —OR⁶⁸, —SR⁶⁸, —S—, ═S, —NR⁶⁸R⁶⁹, ═NR⁶⁸,         —CCl₃, —CF₃, —CN, —OCN, —SCN, —NO, —NO₂, ═N₂, —N₃, —S(O)₂O,         —S(O)₂OH, —S(O)₂R⁶⁸, —OS(O)₂R⁶⁸)₂, —P(O)(OR⁶⁸)(O),         —OP(O)(OR⁶⁸)(OR⁶⁹), —C(O)R⁶⁸, —C(S)R⁶⁸, —C(O)OR⁶⁸, —C(O)NR⁶⁸R⁶⁹,         —C(O)O⁻, —C(S)OR⁶⁸, —NR⁷⁰C(O)NR⁶⁸R⁶⁹, —NR⁷OC(S)NR⁶⁸R⁶⁹,         —NR⁷¹C(NR⁷⁰)NR⁶⁸R⁶⁹ and —C(NR⁷⁰)NR⁶⁸R⁶⁹;     -   wherein each R⁶⁸, R⁶⁹, R⁷⁹ and R⁷¹ are independently:         -   hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, arylalkyl, C₃-C₁₀             cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, 5-10 membered             heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl; or         -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo or hydroxy; or         -   C₆-C₁₀ aryl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, C₆-C₁₀ cycloalkyl or             4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl each of which is substituted             by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄             alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄             hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.             In a particular embodiment, substituted groups are             substituted with one or more substituents, particularly with             1 to 3 substituents, in particular with one substituent             group. In a further particular embodiment the substituent             group or groups are selected from halo, cyano, nitro,             trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, azido, —NR⁷²SO₂R⁷³,             —SO₂NR⁷³R⁷², —C(O)R⁷³, —C(O)OR⁷³, —OC(O)R⁷³, —NR⁷²C(O)R⁷³,             —C(O)NR⁷³R⁷², —NR⁷³R⁷², —(CR⁷²R⁷²)_(m)OR⁷², wherein, each             R⁷³ is independently selected from H, C₁-C₈ alkyl,             —(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered             heteroaryl), —(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and             —(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an             integer from 0 to 4; and     -   any alkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by halo         or hydroxy; and     -   any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups         present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄         alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted         C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy. Each R″ independently represents H         or C₁-C₆alkyl.

‘Substituted sulfanyl’ refers to the group —SR⁷⁴, wherein R⁷⁴ is selected from:

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl,         C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, and         heteroaralkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted         amino, or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl, each of         which is substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

Exemplary ‘substituted sulfanyl’ groups are —S—(C₁-C₈ alkyl) and —S—(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), —S—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —S—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —S—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —S—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4 and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy. The term ‘substituted sulfanyl’ includes the groups ‘alkylsulfanyl’ or ‘alkylthio’, ‘substituted alkylthio’ or ‘substituted alkylsulfanyl’, ‘cycloalkylsulfanyl’ or ‘cycloalkylthio’, ‘substituted cycloalkylsulfanyl’ or ‘substituted cycloalkylthio’, ‘arylsulfanyl’ or ‘arylthio’ and ‘heteroarylsulfanyl’ or ‘heteroarylthio’ as defined below.

‘Alkylthio’ or ‘Alkylsulfanyl’ refers to a radical —SR⁷⁵ where R⁷⁵ is a C₁-C₈ alkyl or group as defined herein. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, methylthio, ethylthio, propylthio and butylthio.

‘Substituted Alkylthio’ or ‘substituted alkylsulfanyl’ refers to the group —SR⁷⁶ SIC where R⁷⁶ is a C₁-C₈ alkyl, substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted amino, or hydroxy.

‘Cycloalkylthio’ or ‘Cycloalkylsulfanyl’ refers to a radical —SR⁷⁷ where R⁷⁷ is a C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl or group as defined herein. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, cyclopropylthio, cyclohexylthio, and cyclopentylthio.

‘Substituted cycloalkylthio’ or ‘substituted cycloalkylsulfanyl’ refers to the group —SR⁷⁸ where R⁷⁸ is a C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted amino, or hydroxy.

‘Arylthio’ or ‘Arylsulfanyl’ refers to a radical —SR⁷⁹ where R⁷⁹ is a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group as defined herein.

‘Heteroarylthio’ or ‘Heteroarylsulfanyl’ refers to a radical —SR⁸⁰ where R⁸⁰ is a 5-10 membered heteroaryl group as defined herein.

‘Substituted sulfinyl’ refers to the group —S(O)R⁸¹, wherein R⁸¹ is selected from:

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl,         C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, and         heteroaralkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted         amino, or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl, each of         which is substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

Exemplary ‘substituted sulfinyl’ groups are —S(O)—(C₁-C₈ alkyl) and —S(O)—(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), —S(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —S(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —S(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —S(O)—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4 and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy. The term substituted sulfinyl includes the groups ‘alkylsulfinyl’, ‘substituted alkylsulfinyl’, ‘cycloalkylsulfinyl’, ‘substituted cycloalkylsulfinyl’, ‘arylsulfinyl’ and ‘heteroarylsulfinyl’ as defined herein.

‘Alkylsulfinyl’ refers to a radical —S(O)R⁸² where R⁸² is a C₁-C₈ alkyl group as defined herein. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, methylsulfinyl, ethylsulfinyl, propylsulfinyl and butylsulfinyl.

‘Substituted Alkylsulfinyl’ refers to a radical —S(O)R⁸³ where R⁸³ is a C₁-C₈ alkyl group as defined herein. substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted amino, or hydroxy.

‘Cycloalkylsulfinyl’ refers to a radical —S(O)R⁸⁴ where R⁸⁴ is a C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl or group as defined herein. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, cyclopropylsulfinyl, cyclohexylsulfinyl, and cyclopentylsulfinyl Exemplary ‘cycloalkylsulfinyl’ groups are S(O)—C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl.

‘Substituted cycloalkylsulfinyl’ refers to the group —S(O)R⁸⁵ where R⁸⁵ is a C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted amino, or hydroxy.

‘Arylsulfinyl’ refers to a radical —S(O)R⁸⁶ where R⁸⁶ is a C₆-C₁₀ aryl group as defined herein.

‘Heteroarylsulfinyl’ refers to a radical —S(O)R⁸⁷ where R⁸⁷ is a 5-10 membered heteroaryl group as defined herein.

‘Substituted sulfonyl’ refers to the group —S(O)₂R⁸⁸, wherein R⁸⁸ is selected from:

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl,         C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, and         heteroaralkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted         amino, or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl, each of         which is substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

Exemplary ‘substituted sulfonyl’ groups are —S(O)₂—(C₁-C₈ alkyl) and —S(O)₂—(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), —S(O)₂—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —S(O)₂—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —S(O)₂—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —S(O)₂—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4 and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy. The term substituted sulfonyl includes the groups alkylsulfonyl, substituted alkylsulfonyl, cycloalkylsulfonyl, substituted cycloalkylsulfonyl, arylsulfonyl and heteroarylsulfonyl.

‘Alkylsulfonyl’ refers to a radical —S(O)₂R⁸⁹ where R⁸⁹ is an C₁-C₈ alkyl group as defined herein. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, methylsulfonyl, ethylsulfonyl, propylsulfonyl and butylsulfonyl.

‘Substituted Alkylsulfonyl’ refers to a radical —S(O)₂R⁹⁰ where R⁹⁰ is an C₁-C₈ alkyl group as defined herein, substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted amino, or hydroxy.

‘Cycloalkylsulfonyl’ refers to a radical —S(O)₂R⁹¹ where R⁹¹ is a C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl or group as defined herein. Representative examples include, but are not limited to, cyclopropylsulfonyl, cyclohexylsulfonyl, and cyclopentylsulfonyl.

‘Substituted cycloalkylsulfonyl’ refers to the group —S(O)₂R⁹² where R⁹² is a C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted amino, or hydroxy.

‘Arylsulfonyl’ refers to a radical —S(O)₂R⁹³ where R⁹³ is an C₆-C₁₀ aryl group as defined herein.

‘Heteroarylsulfonyl’ refers to a radical —S(O)₂R⁹⁴ where R⁹⁴ is an 5-10 membered heteroaryl group as defined herein.

‘Sulfo’ or ‘sulfonic acid’ refers to a radical such as —SO₃H.

‘Substituted sulfo’ or ‘sulfonic acid ester’ refers to the group —S(O)₂OR⁹⁵, wherein R⁹⁵ is selected from:

-   -   C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl,         C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, and         heteroaralkyl; or     -   C₁-C₈ alkyl substituted with halo, substituted or unsubstituted         amino, or hydroxy; or     -   C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl,         aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, or heteroaralkyl, each of         which is substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl,         unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄         haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

Exemplary ‘Substituted sulfo’ or ‘sulfonic acid ester’ groups are —S(O)₂—O—(C₁-C₈ alkyl) and —S(O)₂—O—(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), —S(O)₂—O—(CH₂)_(t)(C₆-C₁₀ aryl), —S(O)₂—O—(CH₂)_(t)(5-10 membered heteroaryl), —S(O)₂—O—(CH₂)_(t)(C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl), and —S(O)₂—O—(CH₂)_(t)(4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl), wherein t is an integer from 0 to 4 and any aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl groups present, may themselves be substituted by unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl, halo, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkoxy, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, unsubstituted C₁-C₄ hydroxyalkyl, or unsubstituted C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy or hydroxy.

‘Thiol’ refers to the group —SH.

‘Aminocarbonylamino’ refers to the group —NR⁹⁶C(O)NR⁹⁶R⁹⁶ where each R⁹⁶ is independently hydrogen C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, 4-10 membered heterocycloalkyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, aralkyl, 5-10 membered heteroaryl, and heteroaralkyl, as defined herein; or where two R⁹⁶ groups, when attached to the same N, are joined to form an alkylene group.

‘Bicycloaryl’ refers to a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group derived by the removal of one hydrogen atom from a single carbon atom of a parent bicycloaromatic ring system. Typical bicycloaryl groups include, but are not limited to, groups derived from indane, indene, naphthalene, tetrahydronaphthalene, and the like. Particularly, an aryl group comprises from 8 to 11 carbon atoms.

‘Bicycloheteroaryl’ refers to a monovalent bicycloheteroaromatic group derived by the removal of one hydrogen atom from a single atom of a parent bicycloheteroaromatic ring system. Typical bicycloheteroaryl groups include, but are not limited to, groups derived from benzofuran, benzimidazole, benzindazole, benzdioxane, chromene, chromane, cinnoline, phthalazine, indole, indoline, indolizine, isobenzofuran, isochromene, isoindole, isoindoline, isoquinoline, benzothiazole, benzoxazole, naphthyridine, benzoxadiazole, pteridine, purine, benzopyran, benzpyrazine, pyridopyrimidine, quinazoline, quinoline, quinolizine, quinoxaline, benzomorphan, tetrahydroisoquinoline, tetrahydroquinoline, and the like. Preferably, the bicycloheteroaryl group is between 9-11 membered bicycloheteroaryl, with 5-10 membered heteroaryl being particularly preferred. Particular bicycloheteroaryl groups are those derived from benzothiophene, benzofuran, benzothiazole, indole, quinoline, isoquinoline, benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzdioxane.

‘Compounds of the present invention’, and equivalent expressions, are meant to embrace the compounds as hereinbefore described, in particular compounds according to any of the formulae herein recited and/or described, which expression includes the prodrugs, the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and the solvates, e.g., hydrates, where the context so permits. Similarly, reference to intermediates, whether or not they themselves are claimed, is meant to embrace their salts, and solvates, where the context so permits.

‘Cycloalkylalkyl’ refers to a radical in which a cycloalkyl group is substituted for a hydrogen atom of an alkyl group. Typical cycloalkylalkyl groups include, but are not limited to, cyclopropylmethyl, cyclobutylmethyl, cyclopentylmethyl, cyclohexylmethyl, cycloheptylmethyl, cyclooctylmethyl, cyclopropylethyl, cyclobutylethyl, cyclopentylethyl, cyclohexylethyl, cycloheptylethyl, and cyclooctylethyl, and the like.

‘Heterocycloalkylalkyl’ refers to a radical in which a heterocycloalkyl group is substituted for a hydrogen atom of an alkyl group. Typical heterocycloalkylalkyl groups include, but are not limited to, pyrrolidinylmethyl, piperidinylmethyl, piperazinylmethyl, morpholinylmethyl, pyrrolidinylethyl, piperidinylethyl, piperazinylethyl, morpholinylethyl, and the like.

‘Cycloalkenyl’ refers to cyclic hydrocarbyl groups having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms and having a single cyclic ring or multiple condensed rings, including fused and bridged ring systems and having at least one and particularly from 1 to 2 sites of olefinic unsaturation. Such cycloalkenyl groups include, by way of example, single ring structures such as cyclohexenyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclopropenyl, and the like.

‘Substituted cycloalkenyl’ refers to those groups recited in the definition of “substituted” herein, and particularly refers to a cycloalkenyl group having 1 or more substituents, for instance from 1 to 5 substituents, and particularly from 1 to 3 substituents, selected from the group consisting of acyl, acylamino, acyloxy, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonylamino, amino, substituted amino, aminocarbonyl, aminocarbonylamino, aminocarbonyloxy, aryl, aryloxy, azido, carboxyl, cyano, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, halogen, hydroxyl, keto, nitro, thioalkoxy, substituted thioalkoxy, thioaryloxy, thioketo, thiol, alkyl-S(O)—, aryl-S(O)—, alkyl-S(O)₂— and aryl-S(O)₂—.

‘Fused Cycloalkenyl’ refers to a cycloalkenyl having two of its ring carbon atoms in common with a second aliphatic or aromatic ring and having its olefinic unsaturation located to impart aromaticity to the cycloalkenyl ring.

‘Ethenyl” refers to substituted or unsubstituted —(C═C)—.

‘Ethylene’ refers to substituted or unsubstituted —(C—C)—.

‘Ethynyl’ refers to —(C≡C)—.

‘Hydrogen bond donor’ group refers to a group containing O—H, or N—H functionality. Examples of ‘hydrogen bond donor’ groups include —OH, —NH₂, and —NH—R⁹⁷ and wherein R⁹⁷ is alkyl, acyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl.

‘Dihydroxyphosphoryl’ refers to the radical —PO(OH)₂.

‘Substituted dihydroxyphosphoryl’ refers to those groups recited in the definition of “substituted” herein, and particularly refers to a dihydroxyphosphoryl radical wherein one or both of the hydroxyl groups are substituted. Suitable substituents are described in detail below.

‘Aminohydroxyphosphoryl’ refers to the radical —PO(OH)NH₂.

‘Substituted aminohydroxyphosphoryl’ refers to those groups recited in the definition of “substituted” herein, and particularly refers to an aminohydroxyphosphoryl wherein the amino group is substituted with one or two substituents. Suitable substituents are described in detail below. In certain embodiments, the hydroxyl group can also be substituted.

‘Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycloalkyl’ group means a 4 to 7 membered non-aromatic cyclic group containing at least one nitrogen atom, for example, but without limitation, morpholine, piperidine (e.g. 2-piperidinyl, 3-piperidinyl and 4-piperidinyl), pyrrolidine (e.g. 2-pyrrolidinyl and 3-pyrrolidinyl), azetidine, pyrrolidone, imidazoline, imidazolidinone, 2-pyrazoline, pyrazolidine, piperazine, and N-alkyl piperazines such as N-methyl piperazine. Particular examples include azetidine, piperidone and piperazone.

‘Thioketo’ refers to the group ═S.

One having ordinary skill in the art of organic synthesis will recognize that the maximum number of heteroatoms in a stable, chemically feasible heterocyclic ring, whether it is aromatic or non aromatic, is determined by the size of the ring, the degree of unsaturation and the valence of the heteroatoms. In general, a heterocyclic ring may have one to four heteroatoms so long as the heteroaromatic ring is chemically feasible and stable.

‘Pharmaceutically acceptable’ means approved or approvable by a regulatory agency of the Federal or a state government or the corresponding agency in countries other than the United States, or that is listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia or other generally recognized pharmacopoeia for use in animals, and more particularly, in humans.

‘Pharmaceutically acceptable salt’ refers to a salt of a compound of the invention that is pharmaceutically acceptable and that possesses the desired pharmacological activity of the parent compound. In particular, such salts are non-toxic may be inorganic or organic acid addition salts and base addition salts. Specifically, such salts include: (1) acid addition salts, formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, and the like; or formed with organic acids such as acetic acid, propionic acid, hexanoic acid, cyclopentanepropionic acid, glycolic acid, pyruvic acid, lactic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, malic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, 1,2-ethane-disulfonic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, 4-chlorobenzenesulfonic acid, 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, 4-toluenesulfonic acid, camphorsulfonic acid, 4-methylbicyclo[2.2.2]-oct-2-ene-1-carboxylic acid, glucoheptonic acid, 3-phenylpropionic acid, trimethylacetic acid, tertiary butylacetic acid, lauryl sulfuric acid, gluconic acid, glutamic acid, hydroxynaphthoic acid, salicylic acid, stearic acid, muconic acid, and the like; or (2) salts formed when an acidic proton present in the parent compound either is replaced by a metal ion, e.g., an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth ion, or an aluminum ion; or coordinates with an organic base such as ethanolamine, diethanolamine, triethanolamine, N-methylglucamine and the like. Salts further include, by way of example only, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium, tetraalkylammonium, and the like; and when the compound contains a basic functionality, salts of non toxic organic or inorganic acids, such as hydrochloride, hydrobromide, tartrate, mesylate, acetate, maleate, oxalate and the like. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable cation” refers to an acceptable cationic counter-ion of an acidic functional group. Such cations are exemplified by sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, ammonium, tetraalkylammonium cations, and the like.

‘Pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle’ refers to a diluent, adjuvant, excipient or carrier with which a compound of the invention is administered.

‘Prodrugs’ refers to compounds, including derivatives of the compounds of the invention, which have cleavable groups and become by solvolysis or under physiological conditions the compounds of the invention which are pharmaceutically active in vivo. Such examples include, but are not limited to, choline ester derivatives and the like, N-alkylmorpholine esters and the like.

‘Solvate’ refers to forms of the compound that are associated with a solvent, usually by a solvolysis reaction. This physical association includes hydrogen bonding. Conventional solvents include water, ethanol, acetic acid and the like. The compounds of the invention may be prepared e.g. in crystalline form and may be solvated or hydrated. Suitable solvates include pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, such as hydrates, and further include both stoichiometric solvates and non-stoichiometric solvates. In certain instances the solvate will be capable of isolation, for example when one or more solvent molecules are incorporated in the crystal lattice of the crystalline solid. ‘Solvate’ encompasses both solution-phase and isolable solvates. Representative solvates include hydrates, ethanolates and methanolates.

‘Subject’ includes humans The terms ‘human’, ‘patient’ and ‘subject’ are used interchangeably herein.

‘Therapeutically effective amount’ means the amount of a compound that, when administered to a subject for treating a disease, is sufficient to effect such treatment for the disease. The “therapeutically effective amount” can vary depending on the compound, the disease and its severity, and the age, weight, etc., of the subject to be treated.

‘Preventing’ or ‘prevention’ refers to a reduction in risk of acquiring or developing a disease or disorder (i.e., causing at least one of the clinical symptoms of the disease not to develop in a subject that may be exposed to a disease-causing agent, or predisposed to the disease in advance of disease onset.

The term ‘prophylaxis’ is related to ‘prevention’, and refers to a measure or procedure the purpose of which is to prevent, rather than to treat or cure a disease. Non-limiting examples of prophylactic measures may include the administration of vaccines; the administration of low molecular weight heparin to hospital patients at risk for thrombosis due, for example, to immobilization; and the administration of an anti-malarial agent such as chloroquine, in advance of a visit to a geographical region where malaria is endemic or the risk of contracting malaria is high.

‘Treating’ or ‘treatment’ of any disease or disorder refers, in one embodiment, to ameliorating the disease or disorder (i.e., arresting the disease or reducing the manifestation, extent or severity of at least one of the clinical symptoms thereof). In another embodiment ‘treating’ or ‘treatment’ refers to ameliorating at least one physical parameter, which may not be discernible by the subject. In yet another embodiment, ‘treating’ or ‘treatment’ refers to modulating the disease or disorder, either physically, (e.g., stabilization of a discernible symptom), physiologically, (e.g., stabilization of a physical parameter), or both. In a further embodiment, “treating” or “treatment” relates to slowing the progression of the disease.

The term “cancer” is used herein refer to any cellular malignancy characterized by unregulated proliferation, lack of differentiation or dedifferentiation and the ability to invade local tissues and metastasize. Cancer can develop in any tissue of any organ. More specifically, cancer is intended to include, without limitation, prostate cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer (e.g., melanoma), liver cancer (e.g., hepatocellular cancer and hepatoblastoma), head and neck cancer, lung cancer (e.g., non-small cell lung cancer), gastric cancer, mesothelioma, Barrett's esophagus, synovial sarcoma, cervical cancer, endometrial ovarian cancer, Wilm's tumor, bladder cancer and leukemia.

The term “prostate cancer” is used herein to refer to an uncontrolled (malignant) growth of cells in the prostate gland, which is located at the base of the urinary bladder and is responsible for forming part of the semen. Prostate cancer is typically classified by a Gleason score, a histological analysis of the grade or severity of the cancer.

The term “metastasis” is used herein to refer to a cancer that has spread beyond the tissue of origin, for example, the prostate. “Metastasis” is also intended to mean the process by which cancer spreads from one part of the body to another, the way it travels from the place at which it first arose as a primary tumor to distant locations in the body.

‘Compounds of the present invention’, and equivalent expressions, are meant to embrace compounds of the Formula (e) as hereinbefore described, which expression includes the prodrugs, the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and the solvates, e.g., hydrates, where the context so permits. Similarly, reference to intermediates, whether or not they themselves are claimed, is meant to embrace their salts, and solvates, where the context so permits.

When ranges are referred to herein, for example but without limitation, C₁-C₈ alkyl, the citation of a range should be considered a representation of each member of said range.

Other derivatives of the compounds of this invention have activity in both their acid and acid derivative forms, but in the acid sensitive form often offers advantages of solubility, tissue compatibility, or delayed release in the mammalian organism (see, Bundgard, H., Design of Prodrugs, pp. 7-9, 21-24, Elsevier, Amsterdam 1985). Prodrugs include acid derivatives well know to practitioners of the art, such as, for example, esters prepared by reaction of the parent acid with a suitable alcohol, or amides prepared by reaction of the parent acid compound with a substituted or unsubstituted amine, or acid anhydrides, or mixed anhydrides. Simple aliphatic or aromatic esters, amides and anhydrides derived from acidic groups pendant on the compounds of this invention are particular prodrugs. In some cases it is desirable to prepare double ester type prodrugs such as (acyloxy)alkyl esters or ((alkoxycarbonyl)oxy)alkylesters. Particularly the C₁ to C₈ alkyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, aryl, C₇-C₁₂ substituted aryl, and C₇-C₁₂ arylalkyl esters of the compounds of the invention.

As used herein, the term ‘isotopic variant’ refers to a compound that contains unnatural proportions of isotopes at one or more of the atoms that constitute such compound. For example, an ‘isotopic variant’ of a compound can contain one or more non-radioactive isotopes, such as for example, deuterium (²H or D), carbon-13 (¹³C), nitrogen-15 (¹⁵N), or the like. It will be understood that, in a compound where such isotopic substitution is made, the following atoms, where present, may vary, so that for example, any hydrogen may be ²H/D, any carbon may be ¹³C, or any nitrogen may be ¹⁵N, and that the presence and placement of such atoms may be determined within the skill of the art. Likewise, the invention may include the preparation of isotopic variants with radioisotopes, in the instance for example, where the resulting compounds may be used for drug and/or substrate tissue distribution studies. The radioactive isotopes tritium, i.e. ³H, and carbon-14, i.e. ¹⁴C, are particularly useful for this purpose in view of their ease of incorporation and ready means of detection. Further, compounds may be prepared that are substituted with positron emitting isotopes, such as ¹¹C, ¹⁸F, ¹⁵O and ¹³N, and would be useful in Positron Emission Topography (PET) studies for examining substrate receptor occupancy.

All isotopic variants of the compounds provided herein, radioactive or not, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention.

It is also to be understood that compounds that have the same molecular formula but differ in the nature or sequence of bonding of their atoms or the arrangement of their atoms in space are termed ‘isomers’. Isomers that differ in the arrangement of their atoms in space are termed ‘stereoisomers’.

Stereoisomers that are not mirror images of one another are termed ‘diastereomers’ and those that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other are termed ‘enantiomers’. When a compound has an asymmetric center, for example, it is bonded to four different groups, a pair of enantiomers is possible. An enantiomer can be characterized by the absolute configuration of its asymmetric center and is described by the R- and S-sequencing rules of Cahn and Prelog, or by the manner in which the molecule rotates the plane of polarized light and designated as dextrorotatory or levorotatory (i.e., as (+) or (−)-isomers respectively). A chiral compound can exist as either individual enantiomer or as a mixture thereof. A mixture containing equal proportions of the enantiomers is called a ‘racemic mixture’.

‘Tautomers’ refer to compounds that are interchangeable forms of a particular compound structure, and that vary in the displacement of hydrogen atoms and electrons. Thus, two structures may be in equilibrium through the movement of π electrons and an atom (usually H). For example, enols and ketones are tautomers because they are rapidly interconverted by treatment with either acid or base. Another example of tautomerism is the aci- and nitro-forms of phenylnitromethane, that are likewise formed by treatment with acid or base.

Tautomeric forms may be relevant to the attainment of the optimal chemical reactivity and biological activity of a compound of interest.

As used herein a pure enantiomeric compound is substantially free from other enantiomers or stereoisomers of the compound (i.e., in enantiomeric excess). In other words, an “S” form of the compound is substantially free from the “R” form of the compound and is, thus, in enantiomeric excess of the “R” form. The term “enantiomerically pure” or “pure enantiomer” denotes that the compound comprises more than 75% by weight, more than 80% by weight, more than 85% by weight, more than 90% by weight, more than 91% by weight, more than 92% by weight, more than 93% by weight, more than 94% by weight, more than 95% by weight, more than 96% by weight, more than 97% by weight, more than 98% by weight, more than 98.5% by weight, more than 99% by weight, more than 99.2% by weight, more than 99.5% by weight, more than 99.6% by weight, more than 99.7% by weight, more than 99.8% by weight or more than 99.9% by weight, of the enantiomer. In certain embodiments, the weights are based upon total weight of all enantiomers or stereoisomers of the compound.

As used herein and unless otherwise indicated, the term “enantiomerically pure R-compound” refers to at least about 80% by weight R-compound and at most about 20% by weight S-compound, at least about 90% by weight R-compound and at most about 10% by weight S-compound, at least about 95% by weight R-compound and at most about 5% by weight S-compound, at least about 99% by weight R-compound and at most about 1% by weight S-compound, at least about 99.9% by weight R-compound or at most about 0.1% by weight S-compound. In certain embodiments, the weights are based upon total weight of compound.

As used herein and unless otherwise indicated, the term “enantiomerically pure S-compound” or “S-compound” refers to at least about 80% by weight S-compound and at most about 20% by weight R-compound, at least about 90% by weight S-compound and at most about 10% by weight R-compound, at least about 95% by weight S-compound and at most about 5% by weight R-compound, at least about 99% by weight S-compound and at most about 1% by weight R-compound or at least about 99.9% by weight S-compound and at most about 0.1% by weight R-compound. In certain embodiments, the weights are based upon total weight of compound.

In the compositions provided herein, an enantiomerically pure compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate or prodrug thereof can be present with other active or inactive ingredients. For example, a pharmaceutical composition comprising enantiomerically pure R-compound can comprise, for example, about 90% excipient and about 10% enantiomerically pure R-compound. In certain embodiments, the enantiomerically pure R-compound in such compositions can, for example, comprise, at least about 95% by weight R-compound and at most about 5% by weight S-compound, by total weight of the compound. For example, a pharmaceutical composition comprising enantiomerically pure S-compound can comprise, for example, about 90% excipient and about 10% enantiomerically pure S-compound. In certain embodiments, the enantiomerically pure S-compound in such compositions can, for example, comprise, at least about 95% by weight S-compound and at most about 5% by weight R-compound, by total weight of the compound. In certain embodiments, the active ingredient can be formulated with little or no excipient or carrier.

The compounds of this invention may possess one or more asymmetric centers; such compounds can therefore be produced as individual (R)- or (S)-stereoisomers or as mixtures thereof.

Unless indicated otherwise, the description or naming of a particular compound in the specification and claims is intended to include both individual enantiomers and mixtures, racemic or otherwise, thereof. The methods for the determination of stereochemistry and the separation of stereoisomers are well-known in the art.

The Compounds

The present invention provides a method for preventing, treating or ameliorating in a mammal a disease or condition that is causally related to the aberrant activity of the Wnt signaling pathway in vivo, which comprises administering to the mammal an effective disease-treating or condition-treating amount of a compound according to formula I:

wherein A is A¹, A² or A³;

A¹ is

A² is

A³ is

-   -   x is 1, when A is A¹ or A²; or x is 0, when A is A³;     -   L¹ is S, SO or SO₂;     -   m1 is 1, 2 or 3; n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;     -   L² is substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₇ alkylene or         heteroalkylene;     -   each R¹, R^(2a), R^(2b), R^(2c), and R^(2d) is independently         selected from hydrogen, halo, and substituted or unsubstituted         C₁-C₆ alkyl;     -   R² is selected from aryl or heteroaryl, unsubstituted or         substituted with one or more R⁴;     -   R³ is hydroxy, alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted amino or         cycloheteroalkyl; or when A is A³, R³ is R⁵;     -   each R⁴ and R^(5a) is independently selected from H, alkyl,         substituted alkyl, acyl, substituted acyl, substituted or         unsubstituted acylamino, substituted or unsubstituted         alkylamino, substituted or unsubstituted alkylhio, substituted         or unsubstituted alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted         alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkylarylamino,         arylalkyloxy, substituted arylalkyloxy, amino, aryl, substituted         aryl, arylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted sulfonyl,         substituted or unsubstituted sulfinyl, substituted or         unsubstituted sulfanyl, substituted or unsubstituted         aminosulfonyl, substituted or unsubstituted arylsulfonyl, azido,         carboxy, substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl, cyano,         substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or         unsubstituted cycloheteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted         dialkylamino, halo, heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted         heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, hydroxy,         nitro, and thiol; and     -   R⁵ is selected from aryl or heteroaryl, unsubstituted or         substituted with one or more R^(5a);

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof;

and stereoisomers, isotopic variants and tautomers thereof.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, A¹ is

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, A² is

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, A³ is

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula IIa:

and wherein L¹, m1, n, R^(2a), R^(2b), R^(2c), R^(2d), R², R³, and R⁴ are as described for formula I.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula IIb:

and wherein L², R¹, R², R³, and R⁴ are as described for formula I.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula IIc:

and wherein R^(2a), R^(2b), R², R⁴, and R⁵ are as described for formula.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa; L¹ is S.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa; L¹ is SO or SO₂.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa or IIc; each of R^(2a) and R^(2b) is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa or IIc; one of R^(2a) and R^(2b) is independently Me and the other is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa or IIc; each of R^(2a) and R^(2b) is Me.

In one particular embodiment with respect to compounds of formula IIa; the subscript m1 is 1 or 2; and each of R^(2c) and R^(2d) is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa; the subscript m1 is 1 or 2; and each of R^(2c) and R^(2d) is independently Me and the other is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa; the subscript m1 is 1 or 2; and each of R^(2c) and R^(2d) is Me.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa; L¹ is S; the subscript m1 is 1; and each of R^(2a), R^(2b), R^(2c) and R^(2d) is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIb; L² is —CH₂—, —CH₂—CH₂—, —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—, or —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula IIc.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIb or IIc, R² is phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R⁴.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIb or IIc, R² is heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R⁴.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIb or IIc, R² is pyridyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, or pyrrolidinyl, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R⁴.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIc, R⁵ is phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R⁴.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIc, R⁵ is heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R⁴.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIc, R⁵ is pyridyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, or pyrrolidinyl, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R⁴.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa or IIb; R¹ is H or substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₆ alkyl.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa or IIb; R¹ is halo.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa or IIb; R¹ is Me.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa or IIb; R³ is OH.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa or IIb; R³ is alkoxy.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa or IIb; R³ is substituted or unsubstituted amino.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa or IIb; R³ is NR^(3a)R^(3b); and each R^(3a) and R^(3b) is independently selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; or R^(3a) and R^(3b) join together to form a cycloheteroalkyl heteroaryl ring.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formulae IIIa, IIIb, IIIc, IIId, IIIe, or IIIf:

wherein n and R⁴ are as described for formula I; R^(3a) and R^(3b) are as described above; and m is 0 or 1.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula IVa, IVb, or IVc:

wherein n, R⁴, and R⁵ as described for formula I; and R^(3a) and R^(3b) as described above.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa-IVc, each of R⁴ is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa-IVc, n, when present, is 1; and R⁴ is alkyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, or halo.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa-IVc, n, when present, is 1 or 2; and R⁴ is Me, Et, i-Pr, OMe, OEt, O-i-Pr, Cl, or F.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIa-IVc, n, when present, is 1 or 2; and R⁴ is Me, OMe, SMe, or Et.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formulae Va, Vb, Vc, Vd, Ve or Vf:

wherein R^(3a) and R^(3b) are as described above; and m is 0 or 1.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula Mb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf, R^(3a) is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf, R^(3a) is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf, R^(3a) is substituted or unsubstituted benzyl.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf, R^(3a) is substituted or unsubstituted phenethyl.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf, R^(3a) is substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf, R^(3a) is cyclopropyl.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf; R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf; R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkyl.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf; and each of R^(3a) and R^(3b) is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf; one of R^(3a) and R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl and the other is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf; one of R^(3a) and R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted benzyl and the other is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf; one of R^(3a) and R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted phenethyl and the other is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf; one of R^(3a) and R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl and the other is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf; one of R^(3a) and R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted cyclopropyl and the other is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf; one of R^(3a) and R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentyl or cyclobutyl and the other is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf; R^(3a) and R^(3b) join together to form a cycloheteroalkyl heteroaryl ring.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIb, IIId, IIIf, IVa, Vb, Vd, or Vf; NR^(3a)R^(3b) is:

and wherein R^(3c) is H or alkyl.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula VIa, VIb, or VIc:

and m is 0 or 1.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIa-VIc, m, when present, is 0.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIa-VIc, m, when present, is 1.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula IIIa-VIc, the compound is according to formula VIIa, VIIb, VIIc or VIId:

wherein R^(3b) is as described above.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula VIIIa, VIIb, VIIc or VIId; R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, or phenethyl.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula VIIIa, VIIb, VIIc or VIId; R^(3b) is substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, or heterocycloalkyl.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula VIIIa, VIIIb, VIIIc, or VIIId:

wherein Cy is

and wherein R^(3c) is H or alkyl.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula IXa, IXb, IXc or IXd:

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula Xa, Xb, Xc or Xd:

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula XIa, XIb, XIc or XId:

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula XIIa, XIIb, XIIc or XIId:

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula XIIIa, XIIIb, XIIIc or XIIId:

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula XIVa, or XIVb:

wherein each R⁴ and R^(5a) is independently selected from alkyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, halo, hydroxy, carboxy, carbalkoxy, or nitro; and each n and t is independently 0, 1 or 2.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula XIVa, or XIVb, each R⁴ is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula XIVa, or XIVb, n is 1 or 2; and each R⁴ is independently Me, Et, i-Pr, OMe, OEt, O-i-Pr, Cl, or F.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula XIVa, or XIVb, each R^(5a) is H.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula XIVa, or XIVb, t is 1 or 2; and each R^(5a) is independently Me, Et, i-Pr, OMe, OEt, O-i-Pr, Cl, or F.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is according to formula XVa or XVb:

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is selected from Table 1.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is selected from Table 2.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is selected from Table 3.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is selected from Table 4.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is selected from Table 5.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is selected from Table 6.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is selected from Table 7.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is selected from Table 8.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is selected from Table 9.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is selected from Table 10.

In one particular embodiment, with respect to compounds of formula I, the compound is selected from Table 11.

In certain aspects, the present invention provides prodrugs and derivatives of the compounds according to the formulae above. Prodrugs are derivatives of the compounds of the invention, which have metabolically cleavable groups and become by solvolysis or under physiological conditions the compounds of the invention, which are pharmaceutically active, in vivo. Such examples include, but are not limited to, choline ester derivatives and the like, N-alkylmorpholine esters and the like.

Other derivatives of the compounds of this invention have activity in both their acid and acid derivative forms, but the acid sensitive form often offers advantages of solubility, tissue compatibility, or delayed release in the mammalian organism (see, Bundgard, H., Design of Prodrugs, pp. 7-9, 21-24, Elsevier, Amsterdam 1985). Prodrugs include acid derivatives well know to practitioners of the art, such as, for example, esters prepared by reaction of the parent acid with a suitable alcohol, or amides prepared by reaction of the parent acid compound with a substituted or unsubstituted amine, or acid anhydrides, or mixed anhydrides. Simple aliphatic or aromatic esters, amides and anhydrides derived from acidic groups pendant on the compounds of this invention are preferred prodrugs. In some cases it is desirable to prepare double ester type prodrugs such as (acyloxy)alkyl esters or ((alkoxycarbonyl)oxy)alkylesters. Preferred are the C₁ to C₈ alkyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, aryl, C₇-C₁₂ substituted aryl, and C₇-C₁₂ arylalkyl esters of the compounds of the invention.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

When employed as pharmaceuticals, the compounds of this invention are typically administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition. Such compositions can be prepared in a manner well known in the pharmaceutical art and comprise at least one active compound.

Generally, the compounds of this invention are administered in a pharmaceutically effective amount. The amount of the compound actually administered will typically be determined by a physician, in the light of the relevant circumstances, including the condition to be treated, the chosen route of administration, the actual compound-administered, the age, weight, and response of the individual patient, the severity of the patient's symptoms, and the like.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be administered by a variety of routes including oral, rectal, transdermal, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, and intranasal. Depending on the intended route of delivery, the compounds of this invention are preferably formulated as either injectable or oral compositions or as salves, as lotions or as patches all for transdermal administration.

The compositions for oral administration can take the form of bulk liquid solutions or suspensions, or bulk powders. More commonly, however, the compositions are presented in unit dosage forms to facilitate accurate dosing. The term “unit dosage forms” refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages for human subjects and other mammals, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active material calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect, in association with a suitable pharmaceutical excipient. Typical unit dosage forms include prefilled, premeasured ampules or syringes of the liquid compositions or pills, tablets, capsules or the like in the case of solid compositions. In such compositions, the furansulfonic acid compound is usually a minor component (from about 0.1 to about 50% by weight or preferably from about 1 to about 40% by weight) with the remainder being various vehicles or carriers and processing aids helpful for forming the desired dosing form.

Liquid forms suitable for oral administration may include a suitable aqueous or nonaqueous vehicle with buffers, suspending and dispensing agents, colorants, flavors and the like. Solid forms may include, for example, any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring.

Injectable compositions are typically based upon injectable sterile saline or phosphate-buffered saline or other injectable carriers known in the art. As before, the active compound in such compositions is typically a minor component, often being from about 0.05 to 10% by weight with the remainder being the injectable carrier and the like.

Transdermal compositions are typically formulated as a topical ointment or cream containing the active ingredient(s), generally in an amount ranging from about 0.01 to about 20% by weight, preferably from about 0.1 to about 20% by weight, preferably from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight, and more preferably from about 0.5 to about 15% by weight. When formulated as a ointment, the active ingredients will typically be combined with either a paraffinic or a water-miscible ointment base. Alternatively, the active ingredients may be formulated in a cream with, for example an oil-in-water cream base. Such transdermal formulations are well-known in the art and generally include additional ingredients to enhance the dermal penetration of stability of the active ingredients or the formulation. All such known transdermal formulations and ingredients are included within the scope of this invention.

The compounds of this invention can also be administered by a transdermal device. Accordingly, transdermal administration can be accomplished using a patch either of the reservoir or porous membrane type, or of a solid matrix variety.

The above-described components for orally administrable, injectable or topically administrable compositions are merely representative. Other materials as well as processing techniques and the like are set forth in Part 8 of Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17th edition, 1985, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., which is incorporated herein by reference.

The compounds of this invention can also be administered in sustained release forms or from sustained release drug delivery systems. A description of representative sustained release materials can be found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The following formulation examples illustrate representative pharmaceutical compositions that may be prepared in accordance with this invention. The present invention, however, is not limited to the following pharmaceutical compositions.

Formulation 1—Tablets

A compound of the invention may be admixed as a dry powder with a dry gelatin binder in an approximate 1:2 weight ratio. A minor amount of magnesium stearate is added as a lubricant. The mixture is formed into 240-270 mg tablets (80-90 mg of active amide compound per tablet) in a tablet press.

Formulation 2—Capsules

A compound of the invention may be admixed as a dry powder with a starch diluent in an approximate 1:1 weight ratio. The mixture is filled into 250 mg capsules (125 mg of active amide compound per capsule).

Formulation 3—Liquid

A compound of the invention (125 mg), sucrose (1.75 g) and xanthan gum (4 mg) may be blended, passed through a No. 10 mesh U.S. sieve, and then mixed with a previously made solution of microcrystalline cellulose and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (11:89, 50 mg) in water. Sodium benzoate (10 mg), flavor, and color would then be diluted with water and added with stirring. Sufficient water is then added to produce a total volume of 5 mL.

Formulation 4—Tablets

A compound of the invention may be admixed as a dry powder with a dry gelatin binder in an approximate 1:2 weight ratio. A minor amount of magnesium stearate is added as a lubricant. The mixture is formed into 450-900 mg tablets (150-300 mg of active amide compound) in a tablet press.

Formulation 5—Injection

A compound of the invention may be dissolved or suspended in a buffered sterile saline injectable aqueous medium to a concentration of approximately 5 mg/ml.

Formulation 6—Topical

Stearyl alcohol (250 g) and a white petrolatum (250 g) may be melted at about 75° C. and then a mixture of a compound of the invention (50 g) methylparaben (0.25 g), propylparaben (0.15 g), sodium lauryl sulfate (10 g), and propylene glycol (120 g) dissolved in water (about 370 g) is added and the resulting mixture is stirred until it congeals.

Methods of Treatment

The present compounds are used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of conditions in mammals that are causally related or attributable to aberrant activity of the Wnt/wg signaling pathway. Accordingly, the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention find use as therapeutics for preventing and/or treating a variety of cancers and hyperproliferative conditions in mammals, including humans. Thus, and as stated earlier, the present invention includes within its scope, and extends to, the recited methods of treatment, as well as to the compounds for use in such methods, and for the preparation of medicaments useful for such methods.

In a method of treatment aspect, this invention provides a method of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with a condition associated with cancer and/or a hyperproliferative disorder, which method comprises administering an effective amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions just described.

In yet another method of treatment aspect, this invention provides a method of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with a condition that gives rise to increased cellular proliferation or a transformed phenotype, or that relates to dysregulation of Wnt/wg signaling. The present oxazoles and thiazoles have use as anti-proliferative agents that reduce proliferative levels (potentially to normal levels for a particular cell type), and/or anti-transformed phenotype agents that restore, at least in part, normal phenotypic properties of a particular cell type. Accordingly, the present oxazoles and thiazoles have use for the treatment of cancers and hyperproliferative disorders relating to aberrant Wnt/wg signaling.

In additional method of treatment aspects, this invention provides methods of treating a mammal susceptible to or afflicted with a cancer causally related or attributable to aberrant activity of the Wnt/wg signaling pathway. Such cancers include, without limitation, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer (e.g., melanoma), liver cancer (e.g., hepatocellular cancer and hepatoblastoma), head and neck cancer, lung cancer (e.g., non-small cell lung cancer), gastric cancer, mesothelioma, Barrett's esophagus, synovial sarcoma, cervical cancer, endometrial ovarian cancer, Wilm's tumor, bladder cancer and leukemia. Such methods comprise administering an effective condition-treating or condition-preventing amount of one or more of the pharmaceutical compositions just described.

With respect to prostate cancer, for example, compounds and compositions thereof and methods described herein are also envisioned as useful for targeting cancerous prostate cells that remain following radical prostatectomy, including micrometastases and thus, are useful for treating prostate cancer patients following surgical intervention. In addition, compounds and compositions thereof and methods described herein are envisioned as being useful in advance of surgical intervention to delay or prevent the need for surgery. For such purposes, direct delivery of the compounds or compositions thereof to the prostate tumor or in the vicinity of the tumor is envisioned as a particular delivery mode suitable for such an application.

As a further aspect of the invention there is provided the present compounds for use as a pharmaceutical especially in the treatment or prevention of the aforementioned conditions and diseases. Also provided herein is the use of the present compounds in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of one of the aforementioned conditions and diseases.

Injection dose levels range from about 0.1 mg/kg/hour to at least 10 mg/kg/hour, all for from about 1 to about 120 hours and especially 24 to 96 hours. A preloading bolus of from about 0.1 mg/kg to about 10 mg/kg or more may also be administered to achieve adequate steady state levels. The maximum total dose is not expected to exceed about 2 g/day for a 40 to 80 kg human patient.

For the prevention and/or treatment of long-term conditions, such as psoriasis, the regimen for treatment usually stretches over many months or years so oral dosing is preferred for patient convenience and tolerance. Psoriasis, for example, has been linked to Wnt signaling. Several basic and clinical studies using patient samples revealed an increase in nuclear β-catenin staining in many psoriatic samples. It has been suggested that a sustained low-level increase in Wnt/β-catenin signaling could be responsible for skin psoriatic lesions. With oral dosing, one to five and especially two to four and typically three oral doses per day are representative regimens. Using these dosing patterns, each dose provides from about 0.01 to about 20 mg/kg of the compound of the invention, with preferred doses each providing from about 0.1 to about 10 mg/kg and especially about 1 to about 5 mg/kg.

Transdermal doses are generally selected to provide similar or lower blood levels than are achieved using injection doses.

When used to prevent the onset of a hyperproliferative condition, the compounds of this invention will be administered to a patient at risk for developing the condition, typically on the advice and under the supervision of a physician, at the dosage levels described above. Patients at risk for developing a particular condition generally include those that have a family history of the condition, or those who have been identified by genetic testing or screening to be particularly susceptible to developing the condition.

The compounds of this invention can be administered as the sole active agent or they can be administered in combination with other agents, including other compounds that demonstrate the same or a similar therapeutic activity, and that are determined to safe and efficacious for such combined administration.

General Synthetic Procedures

The compounds of this invention may be purchased from various commercial sources or can be prepared from readily available starting materials using the following general methods and procedures. It will be appreciated that where typical or preferred process conditions (i.e., reaction temperatures, times, mole ratios of reactants, solvents, pressures, etc.) are given, other process conditions can also be used unless otherwise stated. Optimum reaction conditions may vary with the particular reactants or solvent used, but such conditions can be determined by one skilled in the art by routine optimization procedures.

Additionally, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, conventional protecting groups may be necessary to prevent certain functional groups from undergoing undesired reactions. The choice of a suitable protecting group for a particular functional group as well as suitable conditions for protection and deprotection are well known in the art. For example, numerous protecting groups, and their introduction and removal, are described in T. W. Greene and P. G. M. Wuts, Protecting Groups in Organic Synthesis, Second Edition, Wiley, New York, 1991, and references cited therein.

The following schemes are presented with details as to the preparation of representative compounds that have been listed hereinabove. The compounds of the invention may be prepared from known or commercially available starting materials and reagents by one skilled in the art of organic synthesis.

Example 1 Protocols/Methods for In Vitro Testing of Candidate Compounds

The present inventors employed a novel methodology that integrates a “sensitized” chemical genetic high-throughput screen (HTS) with RNA-interference (RNAi) screening technology in order to identify specific small molecule inhibitors of the Wnt pathway in Drosophila cells. As described herein, Drosophila Clone 8 cell-based assay systems developed by the present inventors to investigate the Wnt/wg pathway [DasGupta et al. Science 308, 826-33 (2005)] were used in a small molecule chemical genetic screen to identify specific inhibitors of the pathway. These cell-based assays, which are described in detail below, utilize a Wnt-responsive luciferase reporter dTF12, the activity of which can be determined using immunofluorescence-based visual detection means. The present inventors used the small-molecule library available from the Institute of Chemistry and Cellular Biology (ICCB-Longwood) at Harvard Medical School, Boston, for the screen.

More particularly, the method for testing and identifying compounds useful in the present invention begins with the activation of the signaling pathway by the introduction of dsRNAs specific for Axin, which is the scaffold protein that negatively regulates β-cat by promoting its GSK-3β-mediated degradation. The resultant activation of the Wnt signaling pathway is then detected by assessing the activity of the Wnt-responsive luciferase reporter gene in the cell-based assay system. Thereafter, candidate compounds are added to the cell-based assay system to assess their effect on the strongly induced Wg-reporter-gene (TOPFlash) activity that results from the dsRNA-mediated knockdown of Axin. This protocol significantly increases the specificity of the small-molecule inhibitors for CRT and serves to identify molecules that regulate Wnt signaling activity downstream of the Axin-mediated degradation complex. Although not wishing to be bound by theory, the prediction is that the candidate compounds act on the “activated” or stable pool of β-cat and potentially prevent its interaction with known components of the transcriptional-activator complex (such as pangolin (pan)/dTcf, pygopus (pygo), legless (lgs) or Bcl9, p300/CBP), or other proteins that may function to regulate the activity of stabilized cytosolic β-cat.

Methods and Materials Primary Small Molecule Screen for the Wingless Signaling Pathway in Drosophila Clone 8 Cells

Day 1 (PM):

Set up transfection with Wg-reporter (dTF12), Normalization vector (PolIII-RL) and dsRNA against DAxin (dsRNA is specific towards Drosophila Axin and lacks any predicted off-targets). 1. Add 40,000 Drosophila Clone 8 cells (in 40 μL) in 384-well plate (white solid bottom, Corning Costar) using the multidrop. 2. Add 20 μLof Transfection mix in each well of a 384-well plate (Corning Costar) using the multidrop.

Transfection Mix:

TOP12x-Luc (DNA)=25 ng (0.25 μL of DNA @ 0.1 μg/μL) PolIII-RLuc (DNA)=25 ng (0.25 μL of DNA @ 0.1 μg/μL) dsRNA to DAxin=100 ng (5 μL of dsRNA @ 20 ng/μL)

Buffer EC=13.5 μL Enhancer=0.8 μL Effectene=0.25 μL

Total volume=20 μL Incubate at 25° C. for 4 days to ensure complete knockdown of Axin.

Day 5 (PM):

Add small molecule library (Cybio Robot). Incubate 18 hrs.

Day 6 (AM):

Assay luminescence from the samples using the “Dual-Glo” luciferase kit (Promega Inc.). Specifically, aspirate supernatant and add 20 μL media+20 μL luciferase buffer using the multidrop. Read Firefly Luciferase activity on the EnVision (Perkin Elmer plate reader). Add 20 μL of Stop&Glo using the multidrop. Read Renilla luciferase activity on the EnVision (Perkin Elmer plate reader).

Epistasis Analysis:

Epistasis Analysis was conducted in a 96 well format following the protocol as described for the Primary Screen (above), except that, 80,000 Clone 8 cells were used per well. Small Molecule Compounds were used at a final concentration of 2.5 ng/ul.

Reporter Assay in Mammalian HEK 293 Cells:

HEK 293 cells were transfected with 50 ng each of the Wnt-responsive STF16 luciferase reporter and pCMV-RL normalization reporter using the Lipofectamine LTX (Invitrogen Inc.) in a 96 well plate format.

Transfection Mix Per Well

STF16-FLuc (DNA): 50 ng (0.54 of DNA @ 0.1 μg/μL) CMV-RLuc (DNA): 50 ng (0.54 of DNA @ 0.1 μg/μL)

Lipofectamine-LTX: 0.25 μL Serum Free Medium: 204

Cells were cultured in DMEM/10% FBS at 37° C. for 2 days following which, they were induced with Wnt3a conditioned media for 1 day and then treated with small molecule compounds to a final concentration of 2.5 ng/μl for approximately 18 hours. Luciferase reporter activity was then measured using the Dual-Glo system (Promega Inc.) on the Envision Plate Reader. Normalized luciferase activity in response to treatment with candidate small molecule compounds was compared to that obtained from cells treated with DMSO.

C57mg Transformation Assay:

The transformation assay was carried out in a 96 well format. C57 mg cells were cultured in DMEM/10% FBS supplemented with purified Wnt3a protein (R&D Systems) to a final concentration of 100 ng/μl. Small molecule compounds dissolved in DMSO were added to a final concentration of 10 ng/μl and 0.01% DMSO. Following incubation at 37° C. for 5 days, cells were fixed with 4% Formaldehyde in 1×PBS at RT for 30 min and washed subsequently with 1×PBS at room temperature (RT) for 5 minutes (×3). Cells were then permeabilized in Blocking buffer (0.1% Triton-X/1×PBS/5% Normal Goat Serum) at RT for 20 min, subsequent to which, cells were incubated with anti-β-cat at RT for 1 hour (diluted to 1:1000 in blocking buffer). Subsequently, cells were washed with 1×PBS at RT for 10 minutes (×3) and then incubated with secondary antibody and Alexa-Fluor 488 conjugated phalloidin in Blocking buffer at RT for 1 hour. Following a brief wash in 1×PBS, cells were imaged in PBS buffer using the Array-Scan imaging system.

Molecular validation of C57 mg transformation assay was performed by qPCR analysis of the Wnt-target gene, WISP1. First strand cDNA was prepared from C57 mg cells treated as above using Cells-to-cDNA kit (Ambion, Inc.) as directed by the manufacturer. Equal amounts of cDNA were used for qPCR analysis using primers specific for WISP1 and GAPDH (the endogenous control). Comparison of amplification kinetics of WISP1 from samples treated with compounds to those treated with DMSO (ddCt method) was used to study changes in Wnt-directed transcriptional activity in response to treatment with candidate small molecule compounds.

Unless otherwise indicated, all experiments described herein that call for supplemental Wnt3a utilize Wnt3a conditioned media prepared by harvesting media from L-cells stably transfected with a Wnt3a coding construct (available from ATCC #CRL-2647). The cells are cultured in DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The medium, harvested from adherent cells cultured to about 80% confluency over 4 days, is purified through a 0.2 μm filter and stored at 4° C. over several months without an appreciable loss in activity [Willert et al. Nature 423, 448-52 (2003)].

Results

The Wnt signaling pathway was induced by the introduction of dsRNAs specific for Axin into Clone 8 cells comprising the Wg-responsive luciferase reporter-gene (dTF12). As described herein, Axin is a scaffold protein that negatively regulates Arm/β-cat by promoting its degradation. Thereafter, a selected set of a small molecule library was added to the Clone 8 cell-based assay system to assess the effect of individual compounds on (Axin dsRNA-mediated) activated CRT by monitoring the activity of the Wg-responsive luciferase reporter-gene (dTF12). The primary screen identified molecules that have a statistically significant effect on the activity of the dTF12-luciferase reporter gene, wherein a minimum of a 2.5-fold change in reporter activity was considered “significant” as a cut-off for hit-picking compounds for secondary screens. As shown in FIG. 1, addition of these compounds to the cells strongly repressed dTF12-reporter activity (>70-90%). Six of the strongest inhibitors are identified herein and, as indicated, share significant structural similarities suggesting that they constitute a family of compounds (i.e., a subset of oxazoles and thiazoles) that regulate a common aspect of the Wnt-pathway activity by potentially binding to the same target protein.

Epistatic Analyses:

Small molecule inhibitors identified in the primary screen may modulate Wnt signaling by affecting intermolecular interactions at any point downstream of Axin in the signaling cascade. Given that the oncogenic character of β-cat and therefore the Wnt pathway itself is caused by aberrant CRT (Park et al. Cancer Res 59, 4257-60 (1999); Lin et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 97, 4262-6 (2000), a major focus of the present invention is to study those compounds which affect Wnt-responsiveness by regulating the transcriptional complex involved in CRT. The use of dsRNAs targeted to specific components of the Wnt pathway elucidates the level at which the compounds exert their inhibitory effect on the Wnt/Wg signaling pathway. This objective can be achieved by activating the Wnt pathway in Clone 8 cells using dsRNAs targeting other known negative regulators of the Wnt pathway, such as Slimb/βTrCP and SkpA, and assaying the effect of the compounds on the dTF12 reporter activity in these cells. Each of the aforementioned biomolecules functions to negatively regulate Wnt signaling downstream of Axin, so these analyses further delineate the stage in the Wnt pathway wherein the compound in question exerts its effect. The results of this experimental approach are presented in FIG. 2.

To gain further evidence that the compounds exert their inhibitory effect in the nucleus, they have been tested in Clone 8 cells transfected with a construct coding for a degradation resistant form of β-cat, S37A β-cat [Orford et al. J Biol Chem 272, 24735-8 (1997)]. This mutant form of β-cat bears a Serine to Alanine mutation, thus rendering it refractory to GSK3β mediated phosphorylation and hence proteosome degradation. An inhibitory effect of the compounds on the activity of S37A β-cat thus provides further proof that the compounds exert their effect on Wnt responsiveness at the level of CRT. The concentration of the compounds for all of the above assays is kept constant at 2.5 ng/μl, which is the same as that used for the primary screen. As shown in FIG. 3, most of the compounds exert an inhibitory effect on Wnt signaling on the transcriptional level. Data depicted in FIG. 3 show that a majority of the compounds inhibit S37A-mediated reporter activity, thus lending further support to the notion that these putative inhibitors do indeed function by abrogating the activity of stabilized β-cat in the nucleus.

Reproducibility of Inhibitory Effect of Small Molecules in Mammalian Cells:

In order to confirm and corroborate the activity of CRT inhibitor compounds in a mammalian context, the present inventors have tested a subset of the inhibitors identified in the context of established mammalian cell lines. To this end, the present inventors have optimized culture conditions for screening for Wnt signaling modulators in mammalian HEK 293 cells in a 96-well plate format. Briefly, HEK 293 cells were transfected with pSTF16-LF along with the normalization reporter, pCMV-RL and the effect of the compounds on reporter activity in such cells was determined by quantifying the luminescence from the luciferase reporter gene as described in Dasgupta et al. [supra (2005)]. As shown in FIG. 6, the present inventors have been able to recapitulate the inhibitory effect of several candidate inhibitors in these cells using the Wnt responsive luciferase reporter, STF16-LF.

In that Wnt signaling has been shown to have a profound influence on both cell fate and cell proliferation in various developmental and pathogenic contexts [Clevers. Cell 127, 469-80 (2006)], the present inventors have begun to investigate the activity of a subset of the CRT inhibitors identified in the primary screen in the context of other available Wnt responsive cell lines. Such cell lines can be used to ascertain further the inhibitory activity of the putative small molecule inhibitors in a phenotypic context. Such Wnt responsive cell-specific phenotypes include an assessment of transformation of the C57 mg mammary epithelial cell line, neural differentiation capacity of G-Olig2 ES cells, E-cadherin expression in the HT-29 colon cancer cell line, and Wnt induced invasive capacity of the MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cell line.

The C57 mg cell line, which was isolated from mouse mammary epithelial tissue [Wong et al. Mol Cell Biol 14, 6278-86 (1994)], has previously been shown to undergo transformation when cultured in Wnt-conditioned media. Transformation of the cell line is evidenced by pronounced changes in morphology, typified by formation of chord-like bundles of cells or foci-forming colonies that break off and float in the media [Wong et al. supra, 1994]. This Wnt responsive phenotype provides a mammalian assay in which to evaluate the inhibitory effect of the small molecule inhibitors identified in the primary screen. Briefly, cells are cultured in Wnt3a conditioned media in the presence or absence of a small molecule inhibitor and morphological analysis conducted using automated microscopy.

The present inventors have established a phenotypic assay using the Wnt-responsive C57 mg mouse mammary epithelial cell line to ascertain the validity of the inhibitory compounds identified in the primary screen. Specifically, addition of Wnt3a conditioned media or purified Wnt3a protein results in cellular transformation, manifested by a pronounced change from an epithelial-cell like morphology to those resembling spindle shaped cells with chord like bundles. Addition of candidate small molecule compounds to such cells in the presence of Wnt3a results in significant inhibition of the transformation phenotype. The Array-Scan imagining system (Cellomics Inc.) is used to image such phenotypic changes in a 96-well plate format so as to gain a quantitative estimate of the degree of the inhibitory effect of the compounds on Wnt3a induced transformation in C57 mg cells. Quantitative analysis of the transformation phenotype is measured by the degree of actin fiber alignment (defined as anisotropy), which is expressed as the standard deviation (SD) of the angles projected by the actin fibers relative to the normal; low SD numbers reflect an increase in Wnt-responsive transformation. This approach allows for objective inferences on the cellular effects of the candidate inhibitors. See FIG. 5.

As depicted in FIG. 5, compounds 10 and 14 show a significant inhibition of Wnt3a induced C57 mg transformation, whereas compounds 1, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 18 and 22 show a partial reduction in the degree of transformation. It should be noted that the degree of inhibitory effect of the compounds on Wnt-induced phenotypes may vary with different cellular types. For example, compounds 10 and 14 are poor inhibitors of TOP12-LF activity in HEK-293 cells (see FIG. 4), and yet seem to be potent inhibitors of Wnt3a-induced transformation in C57 mg cells. This could perhaps be due to their effect on the interaction of β-cat with different transcriptional co-factors in the nucleus that drive transcription of different targets. However to further validate the efficacy of candidate compounds in inhibiting Wnt-induced C57 mg transformation, the present inventors monitored changes in the expression of WISP1 mRNA by qRT-PCR. WISP1 is the key β-catenin target responsible for C57 mg transformation in response to Wnt signaling [Xu et al. Genes Dev. 14, 585-95 (2000)]. Reduction in the level of WISP1 mRNA correlates highly with the observed phenotypic rescue in response to Wnt exposure (FIG. 6).

The HT-29 colon cancer cell line has been shown to undergo β-cat/TCF dependent Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) which can be monitored by changes in both morphology and downregulation of E-cadherin expression levels and upregulation of vimentin [Yang et al. Cell 127, 139-55 (2006)]. The HT-29 cell line, therefore, provides a model system for analysis of the candidate small molecule inhibitors in the context of a transformed colon cancer cell. Accordingly, the present inventors will treat HT-29 cells with candidate small molecules and assay E-cadherin and vimentin levels by western blotting as well as immunochemistry using commercially available antibodies. Furthermore, morphological analysis by compound differential contrast (DIC) microscopy will also be used to determine the effect of the compounds in inhibiting β-cat dependent EMT.

The MCF-7 breast cancer cell line exhibits a pronounced invasive capacity in response to Wnt signaling [Yook et al. Nat Cell Biol 8, 1398-406 (2006)]. To utilize this cell line to assess the activity of Wnt inhibitor compounds identified, MCF-7 cells can be transduced with recombinant retroviral vectors coding for Wnt3a or β-cat-S33Y, a constitutively active form of β-cat [as described in Yook et al. supra, (2006)]. The retroviral vectors will be prepared from pPGS-β-cateninS33Y- or pPGS-Wnt3a-transfected 293 packaging cells. MCF-7 cells transduced with these retroviral vectors can be loaded onto the upper chamber of Matrigel (prepared in serum-free DMEM culture media) containing Transwells, which are subsequently cultured in complete media with inhibitory compounds or DMSO. The cultures will be incubated at 37° C. in a humidified chamber for 24-72 hrs. Following incubation of the cell-loaded Matrigel, non-invasive cells are scraped off and the invaded cells counted by simple light microscopy by fixing and staining with Trypan Blue [Valster et al. Methods 37, 208-15 (2005)]. Results derived from this assay will provide insights into the use of compounds as inhibitors of the metastatic potential of malignant cells in general and malignant breast cancer cells in particular.

G-Olig2 ES cells (available from ATCC) contain a GFP insertion in the gene for Olig 2, a neural lineage specific transcription factor. Neural differentiation, therefore, results in the upregulation of GFP-positive cells. Neural differentiation of G-Olig2 ES cells can be induced by treating these cells with synthetic Retinoic Acid (RA) following the appearance of Embryoid bodies in culture. It has previously been shown that Wnt signaling inhibits neural differentiation of ES cells [Bouhon et al. Brain Res Bull 68, 62-75 (2005)]. To assay the inhibitory effect of the candidate compounds, the present inventors will culture the above ES cells in Wnt3a conditioned media containing RA and individual compounds and determine the number of GFP positive cells by Flow Cytometry. The inhibitory effect on Wnt signaling will be reflected by a reduction in the number of GFP positive differentiated cells in cultures treated with DMSO+RA as compared to those treated with compound+RA.

Although the present Example is directed to screening in the context of an “activated” Wnt pathway, it will be appreciated that other components of the pathway that promote Wnt signaling can be targeted for RNAi mediated ablation and the result of such an approach would be an “inhibited” Wnt pathway. In either event, the cellular milieu of an “activated” or an “inhibited” Wnt pathway can be used as a genetic background in which to perform small molecule/compound chemical screens directed to the identification of small molecules/compounds such as those of the present invention, that modulate the activity of a specific component of a signaling pathway.

Example 2 Protocols/Methods for In Vitro and In Vivo Testing

Preliminary in vivo tests to assay the efficacy of the compounds will be performed in the zebrafish, Danio rerio, wherein increased Wnt signaling during zebrafish embryonic development results in axial specification defects and loss of anterior fates. This is commonly manifested by loss of or reduced eye-structures. To test the effectiveness of the compounds in inhibiting Wnt-signaling in a whole organismal context, one-cell embryos will be injected with synthetic Wnt8 mRNA and cultured in the presence of DMSO or individual compounds Inhibitory activity of the compounds will be assayed by quantifying the penetrance of the Wnt8 induced phenotype.

Upon successful in vivo validation of the compounds in an animal model system, their efficacy will be further tested in the clinically relevant mouse model system, viz. the APC_(min) mouse. Loss of APC function results in an increase in the level of signaling competent β-catenin, which has been shown to be the causative factor in the induction of colon cancer in the above mouse model. Such mice will be administered candidate compounds and assayed for the regression of tumors resulting from increased Wnt signaling in the APC_(min) mouse. Standardized protocols for tail-vein and/or tissue injections will be used.

Example 3

The colon carcinoma cell line, HCT-116 offers a pathologically-relevant system to examine the effects of candidate Wnt-inhibitors. HCT-116 cells bear a deletion of the S45 residue in β-cat, making it refractory to phosphorylation and degradation, thereby resulting in constitutive CRT. Wnt targets such as CycD1 and c-myc are thus overexpressed in this cell-type.

In order to test the inhibitory effect of candidate compounds on the transcription of endogenous Wnt/β-cat target genes in HCT116 cells, lysates were prepared from cells that were either treated with candidate small molecules or DMSO control. As shown in FIG. 7, the protein levels of CycD1 and c-myc were markedly reduced upon the addition of increasing concentrations of candidate compounds. qRT-PCR assays for the CycD1 and c-myc locus confirmed that the changes in their protein level reflected a change in their mRNA transcription (FIG. 8), further corroborating the effect of the candidate small molecules at the level of modulating CRT. Taken together, our analyses suggest a common theme of CRT-inhibition by these candidate compounds in a wide variety of Wnt-responsive heterologous cell types, thus making them ideal lead compounds for drug development for Wnt/CRT-related human disease. Finally, as predicted for the inhibition of target genes involved in cell cycle and cell proliferation, flow cytometry analyses of HCT116 cells treated with candidate compounds showed a G0/G1 arrest of the cell cycle (FIG. 9). Cell cycle arrest of compound treated HCT116 cells was further confirmed by the reduced number of phosphorylated Histone3 (PH3) positive cells, when cultured in the presence of candidate compounds (FIG. 10).

C3: Oxazole C5: Thiazole Example 4 Additional Protocols

HCT116 cells were obtained from ATCC(CCL-247) and cultured in McCoy's 5A medium supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) at 37° C. with 5% CO₂. Target accumulation validations were performed by qPCR following treatment with the lead compounds. Briefly, cells were treated with specified concentrations of compounds for 1 day, and lysed in 50 ul of Cell Lysis Buffer (Ambion #AM8723) at 75° C./10′. First-strand cDNA was prepared using High-Capacity Reverse Transcription Kit (Applied Biosystems #4368814) as per the manufacturer's instructions. Real-time qPCR was carried out for CycD1, c-Myc and GAPDH2 (endogenous control) using pre-validated gene-specific primer pairs from Qiagen and the SYBr green PCR master mix from Applied Biosystems. Data analysis was performed using the MxPro-Mx3005P system from Stratagene using the ddCt method.

Flow Cytometry analysis was performed on HCT116 cells treated with candidate compounds for 16 hrs per standard protocols. Briefly, compound treated cells were harvested and washed in 1×PBS followed by fixation in 70% Ethanol at 4° C. for 16 hrs. Cells were then washed in 1×PBS and treated with RNAse at 37° C. for 30′. Following extensive washes in 1×PBS, cellular DNA was stained with 500 ug/ml of Propidium Iodide at room temperature for 10′. Cells were washed again in 1×PBS and analysed by flow cytometry on a FACScalibur machine (Beckson Dickinson) at the NYU flow cytometry core facility.

Example 5

To determine if the β-catenin pathway is active in prostate cancer cells, levels of nuclear (transcriptionally active) β-catenin were assessed. FIG. 11 shows that β-catenin is equally abundant in the nucleus and cytoplasm of both androgen-dependent LNCaP cells [Horoszewicz et al., Cancer Res, 1983. 43(4): 1809-18] and an androgen-independent LNCaP cell derivative called LNCaP-abl (called ABL in the drawings) [Hobisch et al., Urol Int, 2000. 65(2): 73-9]. VCaP prostate cancer cells, derived from a vertebral metastatic lesion [Korenchuk et al., In Vivo, 2001. 15(2): 163-8] also exhibited high levels of nuclear β-catenin. These results indicate that the β-catenin pathway is constitutively active in a variety of cultured prostate cancer cells and suggest that androgen-dependent and androgen-independent cells would be susceptible to small molecule inhibitors of β-catenin.

While the C3 compound was previously demonstrated to inhibit Wnt/β-catenin mediated cell growth in colon cancer cells [Gonsalves et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2011. 108(15): 5954-63], the efficacy of C3 had not been tested in prostate cancer cells, nor had its effect on AR been determined. To test the impact of C3 on the β-catenin and AR pathways in prostate cancer cells, luciferase reporter assays were conducted in the presence of the constitutively active β-catenin S37A. FIG. 12 shows that C3 dramatically inhibits β-catenin and AR reporter genes, STF-16 as well as the androgen responsive pARR2Luc construct stably introduced into LNCaP cells (LB-1-LUC, [Link et al., Mol Cell Biol, 2005. 25(6): 2200-15]) in the presence and absence of the synthetic androgen, R1881.

The fact that β-catenin is constitutively active in prostate cells (FIG. 11) and that C3 inhibits both Wnt and AR reporter gene activity (FIG. 12), suggests that C3 would inhibit prostate cell growth. To test this hypothesis LNCaP and LNCaP-abl cells were treated daily with either 20 μM C3 or vehicle. This treatment completely abolished growth of LNCaP, LNCaP-abl (FIG. 13) and VCaP cells and analysis of the cells by flow cytometry indicates that treatment with C3 results in growth arrest of the cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle (FIG. 13, lower panels). The FACS analysis conducted at 24 hours following C3 treatment did not show evidence of apoptotic cells despite growth inhibition and apparent diminished numbers of cells at day 3 (FIG. 13A). Therefore, to determine if cells were undergoing apoptosis at day 3, PARP cleavage was examined as a marker of apoptosis in LNCaP and LNCaP-abl cells treated with and without C3 (FIG. 13). Increased levels of PARP cleavage in C3 treated cells were observed, indicating that these cells are undergoing apoptosis (FIG. 13B).

To determine if C3 is generally toxic, as opposed to inhibiting specific pathways in individual cell types, the effect of C3 on HEK 293 cells was examined. These cells do not have β-catenin or APC mutations and require Wnt ligand for activation of the pathway [Al-Fageeh et al., Oncogene, 2004. 23(28): 4839-46]. The results indicate that while higher levels of C3 somewhat slow 293 cell growth, the cells show basal levels of PARP cleavage (—C3) and this is not increased in the presence of C3 (+C3, FIG. 14) indicating that C3 does not induce apoptosis in 293 cells.

While β-catenin can act as an AR coactivator [Song et al., J Biol Chem, 2005. 280(45): 37853-67], AR mRNA levels are also directly regulated by TCF binding sites in the AR promoter [Yang et al., Oncogene, 2006. 25(24): 3436-44]. Thus, the present inventors hypothesized that the dramatic effect of C3 on prostate cell growth is a consequence of transcriptional modulation of AR target genes as a result of decreased AR mRNA expression. To test this hypothesis, LNCaP cells were treated with vehicle or the synthetic androgen R1881 at growth promoting concentration of 0.1 nM in the presence or absence of C3, and Q-PCR was conducted on various target genes (FIG. 15). AR mRNA was quantified along with well-characterized AR target genes, Nkx3.1 and PSA. In addition, CDC20, CDK1 and UBE2C, M phase cell cycle regulatory genes that are AR targets in LNCaP-abl cells were examined [Wang et al., Cell, 2009. 138(2): 245-56]. Levels of c-myc were also examined since c-myc is a known Wnt/β-catenin target gene and assessment of information available through the Memorial Sloan Kettering cBio Cancer Genomics portal [Taylor et al., Cancer Cell, 2010. 18(1): 11-22] indicates that c-myc is upregulated in approximately two-thirds of all prostate tumors. The results indicate that AR, NR×3.1, CDC20, PSA, CDK1, c-myc and UBE2C are all diminished in response to C3 treatment in LNCaP cells (FIG. 15). E-cadherin and GAPDH are not affected by C3 treatment.

Because C3 markedly reduced AR target gene expression in LNCaP cells, experiments were performed to determine whether C3 also inhibited AR-mediated gene transcription in LNCaP-abl cells. To this end, cells were treated for 24 and 48 hours with C3 and Q-PCR and Western blot analysis were performed. Administration of a single dose of C3 at time 0 results in diminished AR, CDK1, UBE2C and c-myc mRNA that persists for 48 hours (FIG. 16A). Further, similar treatment followed by Western blot analysis of protein lysates indicates that C3 treatment results in diminished levels of AR, PSA, c-myc, CDK1 and UBE2C protein, especially at the 48-hour time point (FIG. 16B). Expression of tubulin (included as an internal loading control) and β-catenin were unaffected. Thus, treatment with C3 inhibits AR and β-catenin target genes in the androgen-dependent LNCaP cell line and its androgen-independent derivative, LNCaP-abl, suggesting that small molecule inhibitors of β-catenin specifically target the AR pathway to inhibit prostate cancer cell growth.

Experiments presented in FIGS. 15 and 16 indicate that C3 treatment results in decreased transcription of AR and AR target genes. If these effects occur directly through C3 interference with β-catenin and TCF4 interaction on the AR promoter, the effects are likely to be rapid. To evaluate AR mRNA levels shortly after C3 treatment newly synthesized transcript was examined using primers flanking an exon/exon and exon/intron boundary (FIG. 17). At four hours C3 treatment diminishes levels of AR mRNA in either the presence or absence of R1881.

To determine if the observed effects of C3 on AR-mediated gene transcription were dependent upon β-catenin, transcription of AR target genes in the presence and absence of β-catenin siRNA was evaluated. When β-catenin mRNA was depleted by approximately two-thirds in LNCaP-abl cells, AR and AR target genes promoting cell cycle progression through M-phase were decreased in a manner similar to that observed upon C3 treatment seen in FIG. 16, suggesting that AR expression is regulated through β-catenin, and/or that the AR/β-catenin protein complex is rate limiting for expression of these genes (FIG. 18).

Experiments presented in FIGS. 15-18 indicate that C3 inhibits prostate cell growth by directly interfering with transcription of the AR. To examine the effect of loss of β-catenin on AR protein cells were treated with control siRNA or siRNA against β-catenin. The impact of β-catenin depletion is somewhat variable among cells (FIG. 19A; lower left panel), with some cells showing robust depletion of β-catenin (arrowheads) and others showing strong staining of β-catenin easily observable at the cell membrane (FIG. 19A; lower left panel; arrow). Interestingly, cells with endogenous levels of β-catenin clearly have higher levels of AR (FIG. 19A; lower right panel; arrow) than adjacent cells with lower levels of β-catenin (FIG. 19A; lower right panel; arrowheads), indicating that the cell specific expression of AR is regulated through β-catenin. These results were confirmed by Western blot analysis showing that depletion of β-catenin results in diminished levels of AR protein in both LNCaP and ABL cells (FIG. 19B).

An important objective in the initial screen for inhibitors of β-catenin responsive transcription (iCRT) was to isolate compounds that diminished the nuclear function of β-catenin without affecting β-catenin interaction with E-cadherin at the cell membrane. To verify that C3 does not affect membrane β-catenin in prostate cells, androgen-deprived LNCaP cells were treated with either DMSO (vehicle) or C3 and immunofluorescence was conducted to examine levels of β-catenin at the cell membrane. Importantly, cells treated with C3 show robust staining of membrane bound β-catenin, indicating that C3 does not affect the ability of β-catenin to interact with E-cadherin at the cell membrane.

While the IC₅₀ for C3 has been determined in other cell types [Gonsalves et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2011. 108(15): 5954-63], it had not been determined in prostate cancer cells. Therefore, the concentration of C3 required to inhibit a Wnt/β-catenin responsive-reporter and an AR responsive reporter in LNCaP and LNCaP-abl cells was assessed (FIG. 20A). The present inventors determined that C3 inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin STF-LUC reporter with an IC₅₀ of 0.14 μM in LNCaP, and 0.89 μM in LNCaP-abl cells. The somewhat higher concentration needed in LNCaP-abl cells likely reflects greater activation of the β-catenin pathway in the LNCaP-abl cells through upregulation of the LEF1/TCF transcription factor as seen in other androgen-independent cell lines [Li et al., Cancer Res, 2009. 69(8): 3332-8]. The IC₅₀ needed to inhibit the ARE-LUC androgen responsive reporter gene was comparable between the two cell types at 1.44 and 1.61 μM (FIG. 20A). De-repression of ARE-LUC in AR transfected cells treated with C3 was also observed, suggesting that C3 acts through the AR pathway (FIG. 20B).

Literature reports suggest that the β-catenin binding site of AR overlaps with that of TCF4 [Song et al., J Biol Chem, 2005. 280(45): 37853-67; Yumoto et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2012. 109(1): 143-8]. Therefore, the present inventors predict that C3 will not only inhibit AR transcription through interference with β-catenin/TCF interaction, but that it may also inhibit interaction with AR and β-catenin. To test this hypothesis, LNCaP cells were treated with 10 nMR1881 in the presence or absence of C3. It is noteworthy that AR protein is more stable at 10 nM R1881 (unlike the growth promoting concentration of 0.1 nM R1881 used in experiments above) and AR levels are comparable in the presence and absence of C3 (FIG. 21A, see input IB:AR). The results show that treatment with C3 greatly diminishes AR interaction with β-catenin (FIG. 21A). Further, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP) shows that C3 treatment results in diminished β-catenin on the PSA enhancer (FIG. 21B) a region on which AR binding is well established.

Example 6

The results presented in Example 5 and related figures indicate that C3 (an iCRT) shows promise as a lead compound that can inhibit the AR through altered function of β-catenin in prostate cancer cells. To expand these results, the impact of C3 in an in vivo model of prostate tumorigenesis was tested. To this end, the effect of C3 in a mouse xenograft model of androgen-dependent and castration-resistant prostate cancer cell growth was evaluated. Sphere-forming assays to examine the impact of C3 on the self-renewing capacity of prostate cancer cells will also be conducted.

Determine the impact of C3 on prostate tumor growth in a xenograft model; analyze the blood levels of C3 and its metabolites over time: In that mice treated with 75 mg/Kg C3 injected 5 days a week for 5 weeks did not lose weight and histology of all major organs was normal, the present inventors have determined that C3 is not toxic. Importantly, given the role of the Wnt/13-catenin pathway as a regulator of intestinal stem cells [Korinek et al., Nat Genet, 1998. 19(4): 379-83; van de Wetering et al., Cell, 2002. 111(2): 241-50], no gut toxicity was observed. In addition, continuous injection of 20 mg/Kg by mini-pump for 5 weeks also showed no toxicity. To establish the most efficacious concentration of C3 (and its derivatives), the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) that yields no systemic toxicity was determined. Accordingly, mice were injected 5 days/week for 5 weeks at a range of concentrations between 50-125 mg/Kg and compared to vehicle-alone control. Toxicity was monitored by assessing mouse weight, blood counts and mortality. The MTD determination was performed at the fee-for-service, anti-tumor assessment facility at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

PK determination: For each of the compounds, mice will be administered a single dose (MTD mg/Kg for each compound), and blood samples will be obtained at pre-dose and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 9, 12, 24 and 48 h after dosing to determine plasma levels of C3 and their metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography and/or mass spectrometry. These studies provide information useful in determining the frequency/duration of compound administration in the in vivo mouse xenograft assays.

The cell types for xenograft studies include LNCaP, LNCaP-abl and VCaP, which have all been previously utilized for xenograft studies and are able to recur following castration [Korenchuk et al., In Vivo, 2001. 15(2): 163-8; Culig et al., Br J Cancer, 1999. 81(2): 242-51; Graff et al., J Biol Chem, 2000. 275(32): 24500-5]. VCaP cells harbor a wild type androgen receptor and are androgen-dependent for growth [van Bokhoven et al., Prostate, 2003. 57(3): 205-25]. Other characteristics of cells to be considered in such experiments include the mutational status of AR, pTEN, p53, ETS fusion, and the year derived. Following determination of the MTD, 5×10⁶ cells are mixed with an equal volume of Matrigel (BD Biosciences) and injected subcutaneously into the right and left flank of a BALB/c nu/nu outbred mouse. When tumors reach an average of 50 mm³ (day 0), mice are randomized into two groups of 5 and treated by intraperitoneal injection at a concentration established by the MTD. To assay growth, tumors are measured with Vernier calipers, and the total volume determined by using the formula 0.52×width×height×depth. Tumor growth is measured twice weekly and animals are also weighed twice weekly to assess toxicity.

The effect of the compounds on proliferation and apoptosis in the tumors can also be assessed by immunohistochemical staining of the paraffin embedded tumor samples with antibodies against AR, Ki67 and phopho-histone H3 (proliferation), activated caspase 3 (apoptosis) and histone γ-H2AX and phospho-chkl (senescence). Changes in expression of proteins that are products of AR target genes (prostate specific antigen, PSA; transmembrane protease serine 2, TMPRSS2; and the NKX3.1 transcription factor) and β-catenin target genes (c-myc, axin-2, cycD1) can also be assessed. Since human prostate cancer typically metastasizes to bone, the impact of C3 on proliferation and apoptosis of C4-2B cells that undergo metastasis [Thalmann et al., Prostate, 2000. 44(2): 91-103 Jul 1; 44(2)] and PCSD1 cells derived from a bone metastasis will also be assessed [Raheem et al., J Transl Med, 2011. 9: 185].

Establish the Impact of C3 on Tumor Recurrence and Growth of the Recurring Tumor:

To model castration-resistant prostate cancer, VCaP, LNCaP and LNCaP-abl xenograft tumors can be grown in animals depleted of endogenous androgens by surgical castration. See, for example, Korenchuk et al., In Vivo, 2001. 15(2): 163-8; Horoszewicz et al., Cancer Res, 1983. 43(4): 1809-18; and Culig et al., Br J Cancer, 1999. 81(2): 242-51, respectively with regard to the origin and properties of these cell lines. To determine if C3 has the potential to prevent recurrence, animals can be subjected to C3 or vehicle treatment immediately after castration for 5 days a week for 5 weeks, and tumor growth assayed as described above. The expectation is that tumors will recur in the vehicle treated, but not in C3 treated animals. To determine if C3 has the potential to augment the effects of androgen deprivation therapy in castration resistant prostate cancer, tumors will be permitted to recur and reach 50 mm³ in another group of castrated animals. The animals can then be subjected to treatment with vehicle or C3 for 5 days a week for 5 weeks to determine if C3 has the potential to prevent growth under castrate conditions.

Determine the ability of C3 to target prostate cancer stem cells: Increasing evidence shows that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is highly active in a cancer stem cell population, suggesting an important role in stem cell self-renewal [Bisson et al., Cell Res, 2009. 19(6): 683-97; Korkaya et al., PLoS Biol, 2009. 7(6): e1000121]. To investigate if inhibition of β-catenin responsive transcription by C3 decreases the stem cell population in prostate cancer cells, the in vitro sphere-forming assay can be used, which assesses stem/progenitor cell enrichment in multiple cell and tissue types [Bisson et al., Cell Res, 2009. 19(6): 683-97; Dontu et al., Genes Dev, 2003. 17(10): 1253-70]. Such assays have demonstrated the presence of a stem cell population in both LNCaP and VCaP cells [Bisson et al., Cell Res, 2009. 19(6): 683-97]. By analyzing sphere formation and their capability to be passaged for multiple generations, the present inventors can determine if C3 affects the self-renewal ability of prostate cancer stem cells, which property would facilitate effective targeting of this population of cells. FIG. 22 shows that LNCaP and LNCaP-abl cells show up-regulation of the Nanog and Sox2 genes associated with “stemness” when cells are grown in sphere formation assays. In addition, FACS can be performed to isolate CD133+/CD44+ cells that represent the stem cell population and determine if β-catenin target gene expression is higher in these cells than the parental cells. An assessment of CD133+/CD44+ cells can be performed to determine if these cells have higher renewal capacity and if they undergo apoptosis in response to C3.

Results

Methods: Rapidly cycling LNCaP-abl cells (15×10⁶) were mixed with an equal volume of Matrigel and injected subcutaneously into the flank region of nude male mice. When tumors reach an average of al least 200 mm³ (day 0), they were randomized into two groups of 5 and treated by intraperitoneal or intratumor injection of DMSO (vehicle) or C3 at a concentration of 100 mg/kg. To assess growth, tumors were measured twice weekly with Vernier calipers, and the total volume was determined. The results of this experiment are shown in FIG. 23. As shown therein, C3 reduced tumor volume to a statistically significant degree in this animal model of prostate cancer.

Example 7

Exemplary Compounds of the Invention

The following compounds, as exemplified in Tables 1-10, have been purchased, or can be purchased, or can be prepared according to the synthetic schemes described herein, or can be prepared according to the synthetic methods known to one skilled in the art.

TABLE 1 Oxazole amides (R³ = NH-benzyl)

ID Structure MW IIa-1

421.35 IIa-2

400.93 IIa-3

452.62 IIa-4

466.65 IIa-5

456.58 IIa-6

484.68 IIa-7

414.50 IIa-8

410.54 IIa-9

430.96 IIa-10

430.96 IIa-11

396.51 IIa-12

440.52 IIa-13

468.62 IIa-14

414.50 IIa-15

396.51 IIa-16

426.54 IIa-17

426.54 IIa-18

410.54 IIa-19

436.58 IIa-20

410.54 IIa-21

430.96 IIa-22

430.96 IIa-23

382.49 IIa-24

416.93 IIa-25

412.51 IIa-26

396.51 IIa-27

426.50 IIa-28

396.51 IIa-29

412.51 IIa-30

422.55 IIa-31

382.49 IIa-32

416.93 IIa-33

396.51 IIa-34

412.51 IIa-35

412.51 IIa-36

446.96 IIa-37

446.96 IIa-38

442.54 IIa-39

456.52 IIa-40

426.54 IIa-41

442.54 IIa-42

430.50 IIa-43

452.58 IIa-44

386.90 IIa-45

421.35 IIa-46

400.93 IIa-47

400.93 IIa-48

396.51 IIa-49

380.51 IIa-50

410.50 IIa-51

396.51 IIa-52

438.55 IIa-53

421.35 IIa-54

400.93 IIa-55

430.91 IIa-56

416.93 IIa-57

404.89 IIa-58

398.55 IIa-59

432.99 IIa-60

432.99 IIa-61

428.58 IIa-62

412.58 IIa-63

442.56 IIa-64

428.58 IIa-65

470.61 IIa-66

380.51 IIa-67

414.96 IIa-68

414.96 IIa-69

410.54 IIa-70

394.54 IIa-71

424.52 IIa-72

410.54 IIa-73

386.90 IIa-74

421.35 IIa-75

421.35 IIa-76

416.93 IIa-77

404.89 IIa-78

370.45 IIa-79

404.89 IIa-80

400.48 IIa-81

384.48 IIa-82

414.46 IIa-83

400.48 IIa-84

366.49 IIa-85

400.93 IIa-86

400.93 IIa-87

396.51 IIa-88

380.51 IIa-89

396.51 IIa-90

366.49 IIa-91

400.93 IIa-92

400.93 IIa-93

396.51 IIa-94

380.51 IIa-95

410.50 IIa-96

380.51 IIa-97

396.51 IIa-98

398.48 IIa-99

432.93 IIa-100

432.93 IIa-101

428.51 IIa-102

412.51 IIa-103

442.49 IIa-104

428.51 IIa-105

416.47 IIa-106

437.35 IIa-107

386.45 IIa-108

420.89 IIa-109

400.48 IIa-110

430.46 IIa-111

404.44 IIa-112

382.49 IIa-113

416.93 IIa-114

416.93 IIa-115

412.51 IIa-116

396.51 IIa-117

396.51 IIa-118

412.51 IIa-119

400.48 IIa-120

382.49 IIa-121

416.93 IIa-122

416.93 IIa-123

412.51 IIa-124

396.51 IIa-125

426.50 IIa-126

412.51 IIa-127

400.48 IIa-128

422.55 IIa-129

402.90 IIa-130

437.35 IIa-131

437.35 IIa-132

416.93 IIa-133

446.91 IIa-134

416.93 IIa-135

420.89 IIa-136

442.97 IIa-137

382.49 IIa-138

416.93 IIa-139

412.51 IIa-140

396.51 IIa-141

426.50 IIa-142

412.51 IIa-143

402.90 IIa-144

437.35 IIa-145

437.35 IIa-146

416.93 IIa-147

446.91 IIa-148

432.93 IIa-149

420.89 IIa-150

398.48 IIa-151

432.93 IIa-152

432.93 IIa-153

442.49 IIa-154

416.47 IIa-155

428.51 IIa-156

462.96 IIa-157

462.96 IIa-158

458.54 IIa-159

442.54 IIa-160

472.52 IIa-161

442.54 IIa-162

458.54 IIa-163

446.50 IIa-164

468.58 IIa-165

368.46 IIa-166

402.90 IIa-167

402.90 IIa-168

398.48 IIa-169

448.93 IIa-170

432.47 IIa-171

432.93 IIa-172

398.48 IIa-173

432.93 IIa-174

432.93 IIa-175

428.51 IIa-176

412.51 IIa-177

442.49 IIa-178

412.51 IIa-179

438.55 IIa-180

470.55 IIa-181

414.48 IIa-182

448.93 IIa-183

444.51 IIa-184

458.49 IIa-185

444.51 IIa-186

448.93 IIa-187

414.48 IIa-188

448.93 IIa-189

448.93 IIa-190

444.51 IIa-191

428.51 IIa-192

458.49 IIa-193

428.51 IIa-194

444.51 IIa-195

454.55 IIa-196

432.93 IIa-197

398.48 IIa-198

432.93 IIa-199

432.93 IIa-200

428.51 IIa-201

412.51 IIa-202

442.49 IIa-203

412.51 IIa-204

428.51 IIa-205

416.47 IIa-206

436.89 IIa-207

416.47 IIa-208

418.90 IIa-209

436.89 IIa-210

453.35 IIa-211

448.93 IIa-212

453.35 IIa-213

453.35 IIa-214

436.89 IIa-215

432.93 IIa-216

453.35 IIa-217

448.93 IIa-218

462.91 IIa-219

418.90 IIa-220

432.93 IIa-221

448.93 IIa-222

432.93 IIa-223

442.54 IIa-224

462.96 IIa-225

446.50 IIa-226

458.54 IIa-227

477.38 IIa-228

477.38 IIa-229

412.51 IIa-230

456.57 IIa-231

456.57 IIa-232

416.47 IIa-233

507.41 IIa-234

442.54 IIa-235

474.54 IIa-236

493.38 IIa-237

493.38 IIa-238

428.51 IIa-239

472.56 IIa-240

472.56 IIa-241

432.47 IIa-242

523.41 IIa-243

458.54 IIa-244

477.38 IIa-245

477.38 IIa-246

442.54 IIa-247

412.51 IIa-248

456.57 IIa-249

456.57 IIa-250

416.47 IIa-251

507.41 IIa-252

442.54 IIa-253

400.48 IIa-254

426.97 IIa-255

410.50 IIa-256

426.50 IIa-257

400.48 IIa-258

432.93

TABLE 2 Oxazole amides (R³ = NH-phenethyl)

ID Structure MW IIa-301

416.93 IIa-302

444.98 IIa-303

424.57 IIa-304

410.54 IIa-305

470.59 IIa-306

410.54 IIa-307

424.57 IIa-308

444.98 IIa-309

498.65 IIa-310

456.57 IIa-311

442.60 IIa-312

440.57 IIa-313

430.96 IIa-314

456.57 IIa-315

396.51 IIa-316

430.96 IIa-317

410.54 IIa-318

460.98 IIa-319

486.59 IIa-320

440.57 IIa-321

426.54 IIa-322

514.65 IIa-323

394.54 IIa-324

468.62 IIa-325

435.38 IIa-326

414.96 IIa-327

447.02 IIa-328

472.63 IIa-329

426.60 IIa-330

412.58 IIa-331

428.98 IIa-332

454.59 IIa-333

394.54 IIa-334

482.65 IIa-335

444.53 IIa-336

384.48 IIa-337

414.96 IIa-338

440.57 IIa-339

380.51 IIa-340

468.62 IIa-341

394.54 IIa-342

380.51 IIa-343

446.96 IIa-344

472.56 IIa-345

412.51 IIa-346

500.62 IIa-347

434.92 IIa-348

460.53 IIa-349

414.50 IIa-350

488.58 IIa-351

430.96 IIa-352

410.54 IIa-353

396.51 IIa-354

484.62 IIa-355

430.96 IIa-356

456.57 IIa-357

410.54 IIa-358

396.51 IIa-359

484.62 IIa-360

451.38 IIa-361

476.98 IIa-362

430.96 IIa-363

505.04 IIa-364

430.96 IIa-365

410.54 IIa-366

396.51 IIa-367

412.58 IIa-368

412.58 IIa-369

476.98 IIa-370

430.96 IIa-371

416.93 IIa-372

505.04 IIa-373

472.56 IIa-374

426.54 IIa-375

412.51 IIa-376

476.98 IIa-377

502.59 IIa-378

456.57 IIa-379

442.54 IIa-380

530.65 IIa-381

442.54 IIa-382

446.96 IIa-383

472.56 IIa-384

412.51 IIa-385

426.54 IIa-386

426.54 IIa-387

440.57 IIa-388

456.57 IIa-389

472.56 IIa-390

458.60 IIa-391

462.96 IIa-392

428.51 IIa-393

442.54 IIa-394

456.57 IIa-395

472.56 IIa-396

488.56 IIa-397

474.60 IIa-398

462.96 IIa-399

488.56 IIa-400

428.51 IIa-401

442.54 IIa-402

442.54 IIa-403

456.57 IIa-404

488.56 IIa-405

472.56 IIa-406

488.56 IIa-407

446.96 IIa-408

412.51 IIa-409

426.54 IIa-410

426.54 IIa-411

440.57 IIa-412

456.57 IIa-413

472.56 IIa-414

458.60 IIa-415

450.92 IIa-416

460.53 IIa-417

462.57 IIa-418

476.98 IIa-419

432.93 IIa-420

467.37 IIa-421

460.98 IIa-422

492.98 IIa-423

476.98 IIa-424

492.98 IIa-425

432.93 IIa-426

467.37 IIa-427

446.96 IIa-428

492.98 IIa-429

492.98

TABLE 3 Oxazole amides (R³ = NH-Phenyl)

ID Structure MW IIa-501

443.48 IIa-502

461.38 IIa-503

396.51 IIa-504

456.57 IIa-505

404.44 IIa-506

382.49 IIa-507

440.52 IIa-508

396.51 IIa-509

393.47 IIa-510

413.46 IIa-511

452.46 IIa-512

414.48 IIa-513

414.48 IIa-514

463.35 IIa-515

418.90 IIa-516

418.90 IIa-517

478.96 IIa-518

412.51 IIa-519

412.51 IIa-520

456.52 IIa-521

442.49 IIa-522

428.51 IIa-523

481.34 IIa-524

398.48 IIa-525

432.93 IIa-526

432.93 IIa-527

412.51 IIa-528

412.51 IIa-529

456.52 IIa-530

444.51 IIa-531

432.93 IIa-532

412.51 IIa-533

426.54 IIa-534

420.44 IIa-535

416.47 IIa-536

486.90 IIa-537

453.35 IIa-538

434.90 IIa-539

442.49 IIa-540

442.49 IIa-541

468.46 IIa-542

479.35 IIa-543

434.90 IIa-544

434.90 IIa-545

469.35 IIa-546

436.44 IIa-547

428.51 IIa-548

428.51 IIa-549

472.52 IIa-550

458.49 IIa-551

497.34 IIa-552

414.48 IIa-553

448.93 IIa-554

448.93 IIa-555

428.51 IIa-556

428.51 IIa-557

472.52 IIa-558

460.51 IIa-559

448.93 IIa-560

442.54 IIa-561

428.51 IIa-562

442.49 IIa-563

493.38 IIa-564

442.54 IIa-565

436.44 IIa-566

464.93 IIa-567

432.47 IIa-568

469.35 IIa-569

452.46 IIa-570

418.90 IIa-571

418.90 IIa-572

453.35 IIa-573

412.51 IIa-574

456.52 IIa-575

481.34 IIa-576

398.48 IIa-577

432.93 IIa-578

412.51 IIa-579

412.51 IIa-580

456.52 IIa-581

444.51 IIa-582

432.93 IIa-583

412.51 IIa-584

420.44 IIa-585

416.47 IIa-586

486.90 IIa-587

453.35 IIa-588

380.51 IIa-589

382.49 IIa-590

421.35 IIa-591

380.51 IIa-592

431.35

TABLE 4 Oxazole amides (R³ = NH-C₃-C₇cycloalkyl)

ID Structure MW IIa-601

402.56 IIa-602

388.53 IIa-603

388.53 IIa-604

418.56 IIa-605

392.95 IIa-606

372.53 IIa-607

404.60 IIa-608

386.56 IIa-609

392.95 IIa-610

376.50 IIa-611

372.53 IIa-612

404.53 IIa-613

388.53 IIa-614

408.95 IIa-615

388.53 IIa-616

374.51 IIa-617

404.53 IIa-618

420.53 IIa-619

420.53 IIa-620

416.59 IIa-621

402.56 IIa-622

416.59 IIa-623

402.56 IIa-624

374.51 IIa-625

388.53 IIa-626

402.56 IIa-627

418.56 IIa-628

418.56 IIa-629

432.59 IIa-630

406.98 IIa-631

386.56 IIa-632

358.51 IIa-633

392.95 IIa-634

406.98 IIa-635

378.92 IIa-636

404.60 IIa-637

404.60 IIa-638

418.62 IIa-639

390.57 IIa-640

386.56 IIa-641

376.50 IIa-642

390.52 IIa-643

362.47 IIa-644

372.53 IIa-645

372.53 IIa-646

386.56 IIa-647

358.51 IIa-648

372.53 IIa-649

372.53 IIa-650

404.53 IIa-651

418.56 IIa-652

390.51 IIa-653

378.47 IIa-654

402.56 IIa-655

374.51 IIa-656

388.53 IIa-657

402.56 IIa-658

374.51 IIa-659

408.95 IIa-660

422.98 IIa-661

394.92 IIa-662

388.53 IIa-663

402.56 IIa-664

374.51 IIa-665

390.51 IIa-666

434.56 IIa-667

434.56 IIa-668

448.59 IIa-669

420.53 IIa-670

404.53 IIa-671

404.53 IIa-672

418.56 IIa-673

420.53 IIa-674

420.53 IIa-675

434.56 IIa-676

420.53 IIa-677

420.53 IIa-678

434.56 IIa-679

404.53 IIa-680

418.56 IIa-681

422.52 IIa-682

424.95 IIa-683

438.98 IIa-684

424.95 IIa-685

438.98 IIa-686

374.51 IIa-687

374.51 IIa-688

360.48 IIa-689

390.51 IIa-690

364.90 IIa-691

376.54 IIa-692

358.51 IIa-693

364.90 IIa-694

348.44 IIa-695

344.48 IIa-696

376.48 IIa-697

364.44 IIa-698

360.48 IIa-699

360.48 IIa-700

380.90 IIa-701

360.48 IIa-702

376.48 IIa-703

406.50 IIa-704

346.45 IIa-705

376.48 IIa-706

392.48 IIa-707

376.48 IIa-708

380.44 IIa-709

396.90 IIa-710

396.90 IIa-711

352.84 IIa-712

346.45 IIa-713

346.45 IIa-714

362.45 IIa-715

336.84 IIa-716

316.43 IIa-717

336.84 IIa-718

348.49 IIa-719

330.45 IIa-720

320.39 IIa-721

316.43 IIa-722

316.43 IIa-723

348.42 IIa-724

336.39 IIa-725

332.42 IIa-726

332.42 IIa-727

352.84 IIa-728

348.42 IIa-729

348.42 IIa-730

364.42 IIa-731

348.42 IIa-732

368.84 IIa-733

336.84

TABLE 5 Oxazole amides (R³ = NH-C₃C₇cycloalkyl)

ID Structure MW IIa-1001

387.89 IIa-1002

368.89 IIa-1003

400.88 IIa-1004

461.58 IIa-1005

416.59 IIa-1006

445.63 IIa-1007

431.60 IIa-1008

376.52 IIa-1009

394.49 IIa-1010

348.47 IIa-1011

433.57 IIa-1012

403.55 IIa-1013

397.50 IIa-1014

362.49 IIa-1015

378.49 IIa-1016

386.47 IIa-1017

362.49 IIa-1018

434.67 IIa-1019

508.69 IIa-1020

449.62 IIa-1021

470.04 IIa-1022

529.11 IIa-1023

436.64 IIa-1024

462.68 IIa-1025

508.69 IIa-1026

461.58 IIa-1027

362.49 IIa-1028

348.47 IIa-1029

403.55 IIa-1030

529.11 IIa-1031

433.57 IIa-1032

397.50 IIa-1033

362.49 IIa-1034

386.47 IIa-1035

727 406.55 IIa-1036

376.52 IIa-1037

431.56 IIa-1038

419.55 IIa-1039

414.57 IIa-1040

394.49 IIa-1041

402.54 IIa-1042

438.59 IIa-1043

422.55 IIa-1044

417.57 IIa-1045

348.47 IIa-1046

390.51 IIa-1047

508.69 IIa-1048

392.52 IIa-1049

495.65 IIa-1050

446.62 IIa-1051

364.47 IIa-1052

479.65 IIa-1053

453.61 IIa-1054

375.47 IIa-1055

369.45 IIa-1056

410.54 IIa-1057

500.71 IIa-1058

522.72 IIa-1059

447.56 IIa-1060

408.52 IIa-1061

383.47 IIa-1062

348.47 IIa-1063

372.45 IIa-1064

380.47 IIa-1065

419.55 IIa-1066

362.49 IIa-1067

376.48 IIa-1068

417.53 IIa-1069

350.44 IIa-1070

388.51 IIa-1071

378.49 IIa-1072

400.54 IIa-1073

424.57 IIa-1074

364.47 IIa-1075

392.52 IIa-1076

348.47 IIa-1077

515.08 IIa-1078

439.58 IIa-1079

447.56 IIa-1080

334.44 IIa-1081

334.44 IIa-1082

376.48 IIa-1083

378.49 IIa-1084

400.54 IIa-1085

424.57 IIa-1086

364.47 IIa-1087

405.52 IIa-1088

348.47 IIa-1089

389.52 IIa-1090

597.74 IIa-1091

439.58 IIa-1092

477.58 IIa-1093

438.55 IIa-1094

413.50 IIa-1095

378.49 IIa-1096

364.47 IIa-1097

364.47 IIa-1098

410.49 IIa-1099

449.57 IIa-1100

392.52 IIa-1101

447.56 IIa-1102

380.47 IIa-1103

408.52 IIa-1104

430.57 IIa-1105

394.49 IIa-1106

435.55 IIa-1107

378.49 IIa-1108

475.66 IIa-1109

461.63 IIa-1110

475.66 IIa-1111

447.60 IIa-1112

462.62 IIa-1113

542.68 IIa-1114

545.11 IIa-1115

469.61 IIa-1116

524.69 IIa-1117

469.61 IIa-1118

452.64 IIa-1119

412.94 IIa-1120

352.89 IIa-1121

409.98 IIa-1122

338.86 IIa-1123

338.86 IIa-1124

384.88 IIa-1125

423.97 IIa-1126

366.91 IIa-1127

380.90 IIa-1128

354.86 IIa-1129

382.91 IIa-1130

368.89 IIa-1131

396.94 IIa-1132

409.94 IIa-1133

407.97 IIa-1134

519.50 IIa-1135

444.00 IIa-1136

453.07 IIa-1137

367.47 IIa-1138

332.47 IIa-1139

334.44 IIa-1140

387.55 IIa-1141

372.51 IIa-1142

362.49 IIa-1143

348.47 IIa-1144

376.52 IIa-1145

373.52 IIa-1146

499.08 IIa-1147

451.98 IIa-1148

387.89 IIa-1149

352.89 IIa-1150

376.86 IIa-1151

392.93 IIa-1152

368.89 IIa-1153

352.89 IIa-1154

427.03 IIa-1155

463.62 IIa-1156

399.54 IIa-1157

364.53 IIa-1158

364.53 IIa-1159

379.55 IIa-1160

388.51 IIa-1161

350.51 IIa-1162

350.51 IIa-1163

396.53 IIa-1164

435.61 IIa-1165

378.56 IIa-1166

392.54 IIa-1167

433.60 IIa-1168

366.50 IIa-1169

419.61 IIa-1170

404.58 IIa-1171

394.56 IIa-1172

416.61 IIa-1173

440.63 IIa-1174

380.53 IIa-1175

364.53 IIa-1176

419.61 IIa-1177

405.59 IIa-1178

455.65 IIa-1179

510.73 IIa-1180

464.72 IIa-1181

346.50 IIa-1182

346.50 IIa-1183

361.51 IIa-1184

370.47 IIa-1185

378.49 IIa-1186

415.56 IIa-1187

386.54 IIa-1188

362.49 IIa-1189

390.55 IIa-1190

346.50 IIa-1191

513.11 IIa-1192

420.64 IIa-1193

446.68 IIa-1194

384.88 IIa-1195

366.91 IIa-1196

392.93 IIa-1197

371.44 IIa-1198

351.45 IIa-1199

360.41 IIa-1200

350.46 IIa-1201

364.44 IIa-1202

405.49 IIa-1203

338.40 IIa-1204

366.46 IIa-1205

352.43 IIa-1206

377.48 IIa-1207

410.58 IIa-1208

367.47 IIa-1209

332.47 IIa-1210

403.55 IIa-1211

334.44 IIa-1212

372.51 IIa-1213

362.49 IIa-1214

332.47 IIa-1215

401.58 IIa-1216

499.08 IIa-1217

431.56 IIa-1218

392.52 IIa-1219

367.47 IIa-1220

332.47 IIa-1221

356.45 IIa-1222

318.44 IIa-1223

364.47 IIa-1224

403.55 IIa-1225

346.50 IIa-1226

360.48 IIa-1227

334.44 IIa-1228

372.51 IIa-1229

362.49 IIa-1230

408.57 IIa-1231

348.47 IIa-1232

376.52 IIa-1233

389.52 IIa-1234

332.47 IIa-1235

373.52 IIa-1236

499.08 IIa-1237

478.66 IIa-1238

423.58 IIa-1239

432.65 IIa-1240

463.56 IIa-1241

424.52 IIa-1242

399.47 IIa-1243

399.47 IIa-1244

388.45 IIa-1245

350.44 IIa-1246

350.44 IIa-1247

396.47 IIa-1248

392.48 IIa-1249

366.44 IIa-1250

416.54 IIa-1251

380.47 IIa-1252

408.52 IIa-1253

364.47 IIa-1254

531.08 IIa-1255

354.86 IIa-1256

384.88 IIa-1257

368.89 IIa-1258

451.52 IIa-1259

387.44 IIa-1260

387.44 IIa-1261

352.43 IIa-1262

338.40 IIa-1263

384.43 IIa-1264

392.47 IIa-1265

368.43 IIa-1266

396.48 IIa-1267

421.54 IIa-1268

383.47 IIa-1269

348.47 IIa-1270

363.48 IIa-1271

372.45 IIa-1272

334.44 IIa-1273

334.44 IIa-1274

380.47 IIa-1275

362.49 IIa-1276

376.48 IIa-1277

350.44 IIa-1278

388.51 IIa-1279

378.49 IIa-1280

424.57 IIa-1281

364.47 IIa-1282

348.47 IIa-1283

515.08 IIa-1284

467.64 IIa-1285

453.61 IIa-1286

422.61 IIa-1287

448.65 IIa-1288

447.56 IIa-1289

408.52 IIa-1290

383.47 IIa-1291

348.47 IIa-1292

372.45 IIa-1293

334.44 IIa-1294

391.54 IIa-1295

380.47 IIa-1296

989 362.49 IIa-1297

376.48 IIa-1298

350.44 IIa-1299

388.51 IIa-1300

378.49 IIa-1301

400.54 IIa-1302

424.57 IIa-1303

364.47 IIa-1304

392.52 IIa-1305

405.52 IIa-1306

348.47 IIa-1307

431.60 IIa-1308

417.57 IIa-1309

419.59 IIa-1310

389.52 IIa-1311

445.63 IIa-1312

417.57 IIa-1313

432.59 IIa-1314

507.70 IIa-1315

447.64 IIa-1316

422.61 IIa-1317

448.65 IIa-1318

467.98 IIa-1319

428.94 IIa-1320

403.89 IIa-1321

392.86 IIa-1322

354.86 IIa-1323

411.95 IIa-1324

439.96 IIa-1325

396.90 IIa-1326

370.86 IIa-1327

408.93 IIa-1328

398.91 IIa-1329

420.96 IIa-1330

384.88 IIa-1331

412.94 IIa-1332

425.94 IIa-1333

452.02 IIa-1334

437.99 IIa-1335

409.94 IIa-1336

466.05 IIa-1337

453.01 IIa-1338

452.02 IIa-1339

466.05 IIa-1340

447.56 IIa-1341

408.52 IIa-1342

383.47 IIa-1343

348.47 IIa-1344

334.44 IIa-1345

334.44 IIa-1346

380.47 IIa-1347

419.55 IIa-1348

362.49 IIa-1349

350.44 IIa-1350

388.51 IIa-1351

378.49 IIa-1352

400.54 IIa-1353

424.57 IIa-1354

364.47 IIa-1355

405.52 IIa-1356

348.47 IIa-1357

403.55 IIa-1358

515.08 IIa-1359

494.66 IIa-1360

439.58 IIa-1361

403.89 IIa-1362

392.86 IIa-1363

411.95 IIa-1364

400.88 IIa-1365

382.91 IIa-1366

370.86 IIa-1367

408.93 IIa-1368

368.89 IIa-1369

466.05 IIa-1370

463.56 IIa-1371

424.52 IIa-1372

364.47 IIa-1373

350.44 IIa-1374

350.44 IIa-1375

396.47 IIa-1376

366.44 IIa-1377

440.57 IIa-1378

380.47 IIa-1379

408.52 IIa-1380

364.47 IIa-1381

493.58 IIa-1382

454.55 IIa-1383

429.50 IIa-1384

394.49 IIa-1385

418.47 IIa-1386

437.56 IIa-1387

426.49 IIa-1388

465.57 IIa-1389

408.52 IIa-1390

396.47 IIa-1391

449.57 IIa-1392

434.54 IIa-1393

424.52 IIa-1394

446.57 IIa-1395

470.59 IIa-1396

410.49 IIa-1397

438.55 IIa-1398

394.49 IIa-1399

491.65 IIa-1400

477.63 IIa-1401

479.64 IIa-1402

449.57 IIa-1403

463.60 IIa-1404

465.62 IIa-1405

435.55 IIa-1406

479.64 IIa-1407

491.65 IIa-1408

463.60 IIa-1409

478.62 IIa-1410

465.62 IIa-1411

477.63 IIa-1412

553.73 IIa-1413

507.70 IIa-1414

541.72 IIa-1415

561.10 IIa-1416

493.67 IIa-1417

485.61 IIa-1418

468.64 IIa-1419

494.68 IIa-1420

394.49 IIa-1421

369.45 IIa-1422

334.44 IIa-1423

349.46 IIa-1424

358.42 IIa-1425

415.47 IIa-1426

404.45 IIa-1427

412.47 IIa-1428

394.49 IIa-1429

382.44 IIa-1430

432.54 IIa-1431

396.47 IIa-1432

380.47 IIa-1433

463.56 IIa-1434

399.47 IIa-1435

399.47 IIa-1436

364.47 IIa-1437

421.56 IIa-1438

379.48 IIa-1439

426.54 IIa-1440

350.44 IIa-1441

435.55 IIa-1442

378.49 IIa-1443

392.48 IIa-1444

366.44 IIa-1445

419.55 IIa-1446

451.55 IIa-1447

394.49 IIa-1448

416.54 IIa-1449

440.57 IIa-1450

380.47 IIa-1451

408.52 IIa-1452

421.52 IIa-1453

470.64 IIa-1454

448.59 IIa-1455

469.61 IIa-1456

449.62 IIa-1457

419.55 IIa-1458

435.59 IIa-1459

405.52 IIa-1460

461.63 IIa-1461

462.62 IIa-1462

433.57 IIa-1463

448.59 IIa-1464

477.67 IIa-1465

477.67 IIa-1466

447.60 IIa-1467

463.64 IIa-1468

455.58 IIa-1469

497.66 IIa-1470

424.59 IIa-1471

464.65 IIa-1472

489.68 IIa-1473

479.56 IIa-1474

440.52 IIa-1475

380.47 IIa-1476

395.48 IIa-1477

442.54 IIa-1478

423.54 IIa-1479

451.55 IIa-1480

408.48 IIa-1481

449.53 IIa-1482

424.52 IIa-1483

464.59 IIa-1484

479.56 IIa-1485

415.47 IIa-1486

380.47 IIa-1487

437.56 IIa-1488

395.48 IIa-1489

442.54 IIa-1490

366.44 IIa-1491

423.54 IIa-1492

451.55 IIa-1493

394.49 IIa-1494

449.53 IIa-1495

382.44 IIa-1496

420.51 IIa-1497

410.49 IIa-1498

456.57 IIa-1499

396.47 IIa-1500

424.52 IIa-1501

437.52 IIa-1502

486.64 IIa-1503

464.59 IIa-1504

485.61 IIa-1505

477.63 IIa-1506

463.60 IIa-1507

465.62 IIa-1508

449.57 IIa-1509

451.59 IIa-1510

477.63 IIa-1511

478.62 IIa-1512

493.67 IIa-1513

477.63 IIa-1514

497.62 IIa-1515

479.64 IIa-1516

479.64 IIa-1517

471.58 IIa-1518

440.58 IIa-1519

480.65 IIa-1520

463.56 IIa-1521

364.47 IIa-1522

421.56 IIa-1523

379.48 IIa-1524

388.45 IIa-1525

426.54 IIa-1526

350.44 IIa-1527

407.54 IIa-1528

435.55 IIa-1529

378.49 IIa-1530

392.48 IIa-1531

433.53 IIa-1532

366.44 IIa-1533

419.55 IIa-1534

440.57 IIa-1535

380.47 IIa-1536

408.52 IIa-1537

421.52 IIa-1538

364.47 IIa-1539

448.59 IIa-1540

419.55 IIa-1541

405.52 IIa-1542

461.63 IIa-1543

462.62 IIa-1544

477.67 IIa-1545

461.63 IIa-1546

424.59 IIa-1547

383.44 IIa-1548

392.41 IIa-1549

430.50 IIa-1550

400.43 IIa-1551

439.51 IIa-1552

444.53 IIa-1553

452.55 IIa-1554

439.55 IIa-1555

409.48 IIa-1556

465.59 IIa-1557

465.59 IIa-1558

485.58 IIa-1559

451.56 IIa-1560

467.61 IIa-1561

428.55 IIa-1562

468.61 IIa-1563

408.59 IIa-1564

485.07 IIa-1565

386.86 IIa-1566

414.91 IIa-1567

446.96 IIa-1568

408.86 IIa-1569

384.88 IIa-1570

561.10 IIa-1571

400.88 IIa-1572

441.94 IIa-1573

460.98 IIa-1574

483.97 IIa-1575

436.96 IIa-1576

370.86 IIa-1577

483.97 IIa-1578

446.96 IIa-1579

400.88 IIa-1580

428.94 IIa-1581

441.94 IIa-1582

460.98 IIa-1583

386.86 IIa-1584

425.94 IIa-1585

436.96 IIa-1586

455.96 IIa-1587

408.86 IIa-1588

551.50 IIa-1589

559.13 IIa-1590

428.94 IIa-1591

334.44 IIa-1592

507.70 IIa-1593

427.03 IIa-1594

447.56 IIa-1595

403.89 IIa-1596

436.94 IIa-1597

408.31 IIa-1598

377.85 IIa-1599

391.85 IIa-1600

361.40 IIa-1601

357.43 IIa-1602

387.89 IIa-1603

478.04

TABLE 6 Oxazole amides (R³ = N-cyclo)

ID Structure MW IIa- 2001

330.45 IIa- 2002

387.50 IIa- 2003

392.52 IIa- 2004

372.53 IIa- 2005

437.57 IIa- 2006

463.65 IIa- 2007

479.60 IIa- 2008

511.67 IIa- 2009

376.48 IIa- 2010

495.60 IIa- 2011

465.62 IIa- 2012

449.62 IIa- 2013

424.59 IIa- 2014

404.60 IIa- 2015

387.50 IIa- 2016

509.98 IIa- 2017

525.98 IIa- 2018

521.56 IIa- 2019

525.98 IIa- 2020

505.56 IIa- 2021

432.54 IIa- 2022

417.53 IIa- 2023

446.57 IIa- 2024

408.52 IIa- 2025

432.54 IIa- 2026

469.56 IIa- 2027

376.48 IIa- 2028

360.48 IIa- 2029

489.56 IIa- 2030

433.53 IIa- 2031

473.64 IIa- 2032

535.59 IIa- 2033

495.65 IIa- 2034

472.01 IIa- 2035

439.54 IIa- 2036

457.64 IIa- 2037

469.58 IIa- 2038

388.53 IIa- 2039

519.59 IIa- 2040

481.62 IIa- 2041

388.53 IIa- 2042

486.04 IIa- 2043

523.61 IIa- 2044

437.57 IIa- 2045

346.45 IIa- 2046

472.01 IIa- 2047

465.62 IIa- 2048

486.04 IIa- 2049

362.45 IIa- 2050

451.59 IIa- 2051

455.56 IIa- 2052

467.59 IIa- 2053

455.56 IIa- 2054

394.50 IIa- 2055

346.45 IIa- 2056

465.62 IIa- 2057

426.54 IIa- 2058

463.56 IIa- 2059

424.52 IIa- 2060

376.48 IIa- 2061

516.06 IIa- 2062

438.55 IIa- 2063

495.65 IIa- 2064

405.52 IIa- 2065

392.48 IIa- 2066

480.63 IIa- 2067

485.56 IIa- 2068

419.55 IIa- 2069

398.91 IIa- 2070

350.87 IIa- 2071

490.46 IIa- 2072

436.96 IIa- 2073

380.51 IIa- 2074

417.53 IIa- 2075

421.57 IIa- 2076

392.52 IIa- 2077

359.49 IIa- 2078

346.45 IIa- 2079

435.59 IIa- 2080

422.55 IIa- 2081

372.53 IIa- 2082

398.91 IIa- 2083

486.98 IIa- 2084

441.98 IIa- 2085

350.87 IIa- 2086

472.01 IIa- 2087

412.58 IIa- 2088

498.63 IIa- 2089

375.51 IIa- 2090

362.52 IIa- 2091

488.07 IIa- 2092

481.68 IIa- 2093

502.10 IIa- 2094

424.59 IIa- 2095

391.56 IIa- 2096

378.52 IIa- 2097

467.66 IIa- 2098

466.67 IIa- 2099

471.62 IIa- 2100

471.62 IIa- 2101

431.56 IIa- 2102

392.52 IIa- 2103

480.59 IIa- 2104

435.59 IIa- 2105

463.65 IIa- 2106

484.06 IIa- 2107

406.55 IIa- 2108

373.52 IIa- 2109

360.48 IIa- 2110

449.62 IIa- 2111

436.58 IIa- 2112

453.58 IIa- 2113

430.57 IIa- 2114

387.55 IIa- 2115

350.87 IIa- 2116

490.46 IIa- 2117

459.97 IIa- 2118

421.49 IIa- 2119

470.53 Iia- 2120

455.56 IIa- 2121

425.53 IIa- 2122

334.42 IIa- 2123

474.00 IIa- 2124

443.52 IIa- 2125

455.56 IIa- 2126

425.53 IIa- 2127

421.57 IIa- 2128

392.52 IIa- 2129

359.49 IIa- 2130

346.45 IIa- 2131

434.61 IIa- 2132

422.55 IIa- 2133

439.56 IIa- 2134

373.52 IIa- 2135

358.51 IIa- 2136

378.50 IIa- 2137

330.45 IIa- 2138

449.62 IIa- 2139

346.45 IIa- 2140

422.55 IIa- 2141

402.52 IIa- 2142

439.54 IIa- 2143

392.52 IIa- 2144

449.53 IIa- 2145

390.51 IIa- 2146

362.45 IIa- 2147

424.52 IIa- 2148

391.49 IIa- 2149

378.45 IIa- 2150

434.52 IIa- 2151

405.52 IIa- 2152

376.48 IIa- 2153

441.53 IIa- 2154

376.52 IIa- 2155

433.53 IIa- 2156

374.51 IIa- 2157

394.50 IIa- 2158

359.45 IIa- 2159

437.57 IIa- 2160

346.45 IIa- 2161

486.04 IIa- 2162

408.52 IIa- 2163

375.49 IIa- 2164

438.55 IIa- 2165

388.53 IIa- 2166

389.52 IIa- 2167

360.48 IIa- 2168

433.53 IIa- 2169

437.57 IIa- 2170

472.01 IIa- 2171

408.52 IIa- 2172

465.62 IIa- 2173

362.45 IIa- 2174

451.59 IIa- 2175

418.52 IIa- 2176

388.53 IIa- 2177

455.56 IIa- 2178

453.95 IIa- 2179

438.93 IIa- 2180

433.53 IIa- 2181

437.57 IIa- 2182

486.04 IIa- 2183

362.45 IIa- 2184

418.52 IIa- 2185

455.54 IIa- 2186

389.52 IIa- 2187

360.48 IIa- 2188

394.92 IIa- 2189

457.98 IIa- 2190

434.52 IIa- 2191

479.56 IIa- 2192

440.52 IIa- 2193

511.65 IIa- 2194

532.06 IIa- 2195

511.65 IIa- 2196

421.52 IIa- 2197

408.48 IIa- 2198

497.62 IIa- 2199

435.55 IIa- 2200

513.62 IIa- 2201

382.49 IIa- 2202

362.49 IIa- 2203

380.47 IIa- 2204

423.54 IIa- 2205

394.50 IIa- 2206

348.42 IIa- 2207

375.49 IIa- 2208

394.45 IIa- 2209

412.51 IIa- 2210

392.52 IIa- 2211

449.53 IIa- 2212

404.53 IIa- 2213

390.51 IIa- 2214

410.50 IIa- 2215

375.45 IIa- 2216

453.56 IIa- 2217

362.45 IIa- 2218

481.62 IIa- 2219

481.62 IIa- 2220

424.52 IIa- 2221

481.62 IIa- 2222

391.49 IIa- 2223

378.45 IIa- 2224

467.59 IIa- 2225

404.53 IIa- 2226

405.52 IIa- 2227

428.51 IIa- 2228

408.52 IIa- 2229

465.53 IIa- 2230

406.50 IIa- 2231

426.50 IIa- 2232

391.45 IIa- 2233

469.56 IIa- 2234

378.45 IIa- 2235

475.61 IIa- 2236

497.62 IIa- 2237

497.62 IIa- 2238

440.52 IIa- 2239

497.62 IIa- 2240

380.47 IIa- 2241

407.49 IIa- 2242

394.45 IIa- 2243

483.59 IIa- 2244

435.55 IIa- 2245

470.55 IIa- 2246

394.49 IIa- 2247

420.53 IIa- 2248

421.52 IIa- 2249

499.59 IIa- 2250

392.48 IIa- 2251

412.51 IIa- 2252

449.53 IIa- 2253

390.51 IIa- 2254

410.50 IIa- 2255

375.45 IIa- 2256

453.56 IIa- 2257

362.45 IIa- 2258

424.52 IIa- 2259

404.53 IIa- 2260

481.62 IIa- 2261

391.49 IIa- 2262

378.45 IIa- 2263

467.59 IIa- 2264

466.60 IIa- 2265

405.52 IIa- 2266

376.48 IIa- 2267

491.97 IIa- 2268

408.50 IIa- 2269

453.49 IIa- 2270

394.47 IIa- 2271

414.46 IIa- 2272

457.53 IIa- 2273

428.49 IIa- 2274

486.58 IIa- 2275

382.41 IIa- 2276

471.55 IIa- 2277

470.57 IIa- 2278

522.45 IIa- 2279

430.91 IIa- 2280

468.96 IIa- 2281

398.87 IIa- 2282

480.03 IIa- 2283

578.09 IIa- 2284

475.52 IIa- 2285

506.00 IIa- 2286

525.53 IIa- 2287

514.62 IIa- 2288

374.46 IIa- 2289

441.60 IIa- 2290

392.52 IIa- 2291

433.57

TABLE 7 Phenmethylene-Thiazole Alkanoic Acids (R³ = OH) ID Structure MW IIb- 1

402.3 IIb- 2

409.5 IIb- 3

372.8 IIb- 4

395.5 IIb- 5

456.5 IIb- 6

337.4 IIb- 7

423.6 IIb- 8

442.5 IIb- 9

426.5 IIb- 10

343.4 IIb- 11

412.5 IIb- 12

336.4 IIb- 13

353.4 IIb- 14

359.4 IIb- 15

397.5 IIb- 16

353.4 IIb- 17

341.8 IIb- 18

466.6 IIb- 19

335.4 IIb- 20

372.3 IIb- 21

362.3 IIb- 22

362.3 IIb- 23

337.4 IIb- 24

311.4 IIb- 25

341.8 IIb- 26

421.6 IIb- 27

349.5 IIb- 28

443.5 IIb- 29

365.5 IIb- 30

369.5 IIb- 31

338.4 IIb- 32

337.4 IIb- 33

399.5 IIb- 34

339.5 IIb- 35

335.4 IIb- 36

397.4 IIb- 37

396.4 IIb- 38

309.4 IIb- 39

383.4 IIb- 40

307.4 IIb- 41

399.5 IIb- 42

369.4 IIb- 43

421.6 IIb- 44

362.3 IIb- 45

367.4 IIb- 46

366.4 IIb- 47

386.3 IIb- 48

413.5 IIb- 49

351.4 IIb- 50

413.5 IIb- 51

363.5 IIb- 52

353.5 IIb- 53

413.5 IIb- 54

457.6 IIb- 55

443.5 IIb- 56

411.5 IIb- 57

410.5 IIb- 58

397.5 IIb- 59

383.4 IIb- 60

435.6 IIb- 61

353.4 IIb- 62

338.4 IIb- 63

460.5 IIb- 64

435.6 IIb- 65

323.4 IIb- 66

349.4 IIb- 67

363.5 IIb- 68

448.5 IIb- 69

376.3 IIb- 70

434.5 IIb- 71

434.5 IIb- 72

448.6 IIb- 73

448.6 IIb- 74

448.6 IIb- 75

353.4 IIb- 76

364.5 IIb- 77

478.9 IIb- 78

344.4 IIb- 79

358.4 IIb- 80

344.4 IIb- 81

345.4 IIb- 82

358.4 IIb- 83

359.4 IIb- 84

339.4 IIb- 85

362.3 IIb- 86

350.5 IIb- 87

365.5 IIb- 88

309.4 IIb- 89

351.4 IIb- 90

446.5 IIb- 91

477.0 IIb- 92

451.6 IIb- 93

349.4 IIb- 94

413.5 IIb- 95

433.9 IIb- 96

433.9 IIb- 97

413.5 IIb- 98

433.9 IIb- 99

413.5 IIb- 100

433.9 IIb- 101

433.9 IIb- 102

464.0 IIb- 103

464.0 IIb- 104

478.0 IIb- 105

478.0 IIb- 106

395.5 IIb- 107

409.5 IIb- 108

465.6 IIb- 109

363.5 IIb- 110

427.5 IIb- 111

448.0 IIb- 112

448.0 IIb- 113

427.5 IIb- 114

448.0 IIb- 115

427.5 IIb- 116

448.0 IIb- 117

448.0 IIb- 118

478.0 IIb- 119

478.0 IIb- 120

492.0 IIb- 121

492.0 IIb- 122

418.3 IIb- 123

432.3 IIb- 124

395.5 IIb- 125

446.3 IIb- 126

465.3 IIb- 127

387.5 IIb- 128

343.8 IIb- 129

352.4 IIb- 130

351.4 IIb- 131

367.4 IIb- 132

351.4 IIb- 133

446.3 IIb- 134

354.4 IIb- 135

432.3 IIb- 136

460.4 IIb- 137

460.4 IIb- 138

381.4 IIb- 139

416.3 IIb- 140

337.4 IIb- 141

432.3 IIb- 142

467.2 IIIb- 143

367.4 IIb- 144

381.5 IIb- 145

372.3 IIb- 146

466.6 IIb- 147

381.5 IIb- 148

367.4 IIb- 149

375.4 IIb- 150

359.8 IIb- 151

351.4 IIb- 152

359.4 IIb- 153

365.4 IIb- 154

491.0 IIb- 155

379.5 IIb- 156

393.5 IIb- 157

363.5 IIb- 158

442.5 IIb- 159

368.4 IIb- 160

352.4 IIb- 161

309.4 IIb- 162

352.4 IIb- 163

351.4 IIb- 164

442.5 IIb- 165

442.5 IIb- 166

323.4 IIb- 167

412.5 IIb- 168

412.5 IIb- 169

337.4 IIb- 170

337.4 IIb- 171

338.4 IIb- 172

349.4 IIb- 173

325.4 IIb- 174

456.5 IIb- 175

456.5 IIb- 176

456.5 IIb- 177

430.5 IIb- 178

430.5 IIb- 179

430.5 IIb- 180

446.5 IIb- 181

446.5 IIb- 182

472.5 IIb- 183

440.5 IIb- 184

440.5 IIb- 185

440.5 IIb- 186

456.5 IIb- 187

456.5 IIb- 188

456.5 IIb- 189

456.5 IIb- 190

456.5 IIb- 191

456.5 IIb- 192

456.5 IIb- 193

488.5 IIb- 194

488.5 IIb- 195

472.5 IIb- 196

472.5 IIb- 197

472.5 IIb- 198

444.5 IIb- 199

444.5 IIb- 200

446.9 IIb- 201

446.9 IIb- 202

446.9 IIb- 203

462.9 IIb- 204

462.9 IIb- 205

442.5 IIb- 206

442.5 IIb- 207

442.5 IIb- 208

458.5 IIb- 209

458.5 IIb- 210

486.6 IIb- 211

486.6 IIb- 212

486.6 IIb- 213

484.6 IIb- 214

484.6 IIb- 215

470.5 IIb- 216

470.5 IIb- 217

486.5 IIb- 218

442.5 IIb- 219

357.5 IIb- 220

321.4 IIb- 221

321.4 IIb- 222

465.6 IIb- 223

479.7 IIb- 224

465.6 IIb- 225

479.7 IIb- 226

479.7 IIb- 227

493.7 IIb- 228

325.4 IIb- 229

349.5 IIb- 230

345.8 IIb- 231

350.4 IIb- 232

364.4 IIb- 233

378.5 IIb- 234

406.5 IIb- 235

476.7 IIb- 236

364.4 IIb- 237

378.5 IIb- 238

392.5 IIb- 239

406.5 IIb- 240

406.5 IIb- 241

406.5 IIb- 242

392.5 IIb- 243

440.5 IIb- 244

424.6 IIb- 245

421.5 IIb- 246

407.5 IIb- 247

479.6 IIb- 248

364.4 IIb- 249

378.5 IIb- 250

392.5 IIb- 251

420.6 IIb- 252

490.7 IIb- 253

378.5 IIb- 254

392.5 IIb- 255

406.5 IIb- 256

420.6 IIb- 257

420.6 IIb- 258

420.6 IIb- 259

454.6 IIb- 260

406.5 IIb- 261

438.6 IIb- 262

435.5 IIb- 263

421.5 IIb- 264

493.6 IIb- 265

380.4 IIb- 266

394.5 IIb- 267

408.5 IIb- 268

436.6 IIb- 269

394.5 IIb- 270

408.5 IIb- 271

422.5 IIb- 272

436.6 IIb- 273

436.6 IIb- 274

436.6 IIb- 275

422.5 IIb- 276

470.6 IIb- 277

454.6 IIb- 278

451.5 IIb- 279

437.5 IIb- 280

410.5 IIb- 281

424.5 IIb- 282

438.5 IIb- 283

424.5 IIb- 284

438.5 IIb- 285

452.6 IIb- 286

466.6 IIb- 287

466.6 IIb- 288

466.6 IIb- 289

452.6 IIb- 290

484.6 Iib- 291

481.6 IIb- 292

467.5 IIb- 293

424.5 IIb- 294

438.5 IIb- 295

452.6 IIb- 296

480.6 IIb- 297

438.5 IIb- 298

452.6 IIb- 299

466.6 IIb- 300

480.6 IIb- 301

480.6 IIb- 302

480.6 IIb- 303

466.6 IIb- 304

498.6 IIb- 305

495.6 IIb- 306

321.4 IIb- 307

335.4 IIb- 308

442.5 IIb- 309

354.4 IIb- 310

442.5 IIb- 311

422.5 IIb- 312

428.5 IIb- 313

446.5 IIb- 314

339.4 IIb- 315

448.6 IIb- 316

446.5 IIb- 317

325.4 IIb- 318

446.5 IIb- 319

428.5 IIb- 320

434.5 IIb- 321

442.5 IIb- 322

434.5 IIb- 323

428.5 IIb- 324

377.5 IIb- 325

363.5 IIb- 326

373.4 IIb- 327

378.5 IIb- 328

376.3 IIb- 329

353.4 IIb- 330

352.4 IIb- 331

484.6 IIb- 332

486.5 IIb- 333

466.6 IIb- 334

323.4 IIb- 335

367.4 IIb- 336

321.4 IIb- 337

418.3 IIb- 338

367.4 IIb- 339

399.5 IIb- 340

429.5 IIb- 341

422.5 IIb- 342

457.6 IIb- 343

338.4 IIb- 344

338.4 IIb- 345

383.4 IIb- 346

307.4 IIb- 347

337.4 IIb- 348

491.4 IIb- 349

491.4 IIb- 350

491.4 IIb- 351

456.5 IIb- 352

472.5 IIb- 353

444.5 IIb- 354

323.4 IIb- 355

323.4 IIb- 356

323.4 IIb- 357

426.5 IIb- 358

351.4 IIb- 359

426.5 IIb- 360

456.5 IIb- 361

456.5 IIb- 362

321.4 IIb- 363

472.5 IIb- 364

311.4 IIb- 365

325.4 IIb- 366

327.8 IIb- 367

293.4 IIb- 368

381.5 IIb- 369

393.5 IIb- 370

407.5 IIb- 371

393.5 IIb- 372

454.6 IIb- 373

454.6 IIb- 374

381.5 IIb- 375

339.4 IIb- 376

426.5 IIb- 377

353.4 IIb- 378

461.0 IIb- 379

426.5 IIb- 380

462.9 IIb- 381

426.5 IIb- 382

470.5 IIb- 383

454.6 IIb- 384

353.4 IIb- 385

440.5 IIb- 386

367.4 IIb- 387

446.9 IIb- 388

337.4 IIb- 389

327.8 IIb- 390

367.4 IIb- 391

372.3 IIb- 392

351.4 IIb- 393

440.5 IIb- 394

446.9 IIb- 395

351.4 IIb- 396

307.4 IIb- 397

440.5 IIb- 398

311.4 IIb- 399

385.5 IIb- 400

386.3 IIb- 401

461.0 IIb- 402

307.4 IIb- 403

462.9 IIb- 404

325.4 IIb- 405

461.0 IIb- 406

378.5 IIb- 407

343.4 IIb- 408

373.5 IIb- 409

446.9 IIb- 410

430.3 IIb- 411

386.3 IIb- 412

402.3 IIb- 413

339.4 IIb- 414

429.5 IIb- 415

444.5

TABLE 8 Pyridyl And Quinolinyl Methylenyl Alkanoic Acids (R³ = OH) ID Structure MW IIb- 416

294.4 IIb- 417

308.4 IIb- 418

344.4 IIb- 419

358.4 IIb- 420

374.4 IIb- 421

374.4 IIb- 422

378.9 IIb- 423

388.5 IIb- 424

388.5 IIb- 425

392.9 IIb- 426

388.5 IIb- 427

402.5 IIb- 428

408.9 IIb- 429

422.9

TABLE 9 Thiophenylmethylenyl Alkanoic Acids And Amides (R³ = O— And NH—) IIb- 430

327.4 IIb- 431

446.6 IIb- 432

404.5 IIb- 433

404.5 IIb- 434

418.5 IIb- 435

430.6 IIb- 436

456.5 IIb- 437

396.5 IIb- 438

434.5 IIb- 439

449.5 IIb- 440

439.6 IIb- 441

418.5 IIb- 442

313.4 IIb- 443

327.4 IIb- 444

446.6 IIb- 445

458.6 IIb- 446

494.7 IIb- 447

480.6 IIb- 448

476.0 IIb- 449

438.6 IIb- 450

395.5 IIb- 451

458.7 IIb- 452

410.6 IIb- 453

424.6 IIb- 454

428.6 IIb- 455

418.6 IIb- 456

420.6 IIb- 457

487.6 IIb- 458

457.6 IIb- 459

398.6 IIb- 460

380.6 IIb- 461

412.6 IIb- 462

456.5 IIb- 463

432.6 IIb- 464

432.6 IIb- 465

472.7 IIb- 466

442.5 IIb- 467

416.5 IIb- 468

430.5 IIb- 469

388.5 IIb- 470

446.6 IIb- 471

370.5 IIb- 472

418.5 IIb- 473

352.5 IIb- 474

368.5 IIb- 475

381.5 IIb- 476

383.5 IIb- 477

379.5 IIb- 478

375.5 IIb- 479

375.5 IIb- 480

432.6 IIb- 481

341.5 IIb- 482

404.5 IIb- 483

418.6 IIb- 484

432.5 IIb- 485

441.0 IIb- 486

494.7 IIb- 487

410.6 IIb- 488

467.4 IIb- 489

381.5 IIb- 490

439.6 IIb- 491

380.6 IIb- 492

380.6 IIb- 493

416.6 IIb- 494

354.5 IIb- 495

384.5 IIb- 496

380.6 IIb- 497

477.6 IIb- 498

445.6 IIb- 499

416.6 IIb- 500

406.5 IIb- 501

439.0 IIb- 502

397.6 IIb- 503

457.6 IIb- 504

416.6 IIb- 505

430.6 IIb- 506

432.5 IIb- 507

406.5 IIb- 508

424.6 IIb- 509

478.7 IIb- 510

402.6 IIb- 511

402.6 IIb- 512

416.6 IIb- 513

452.6 IIb- 514

395.5 IIb- 515

389.5 IIb- 516

446.7 IIb- 517

434.5 IIb- 518

430.6 IIb- 519

416.6 IIb- 520

444.6 IIb- 521

448.5 IIb- 522

444.6 IIb- 523

441.6 IIb- 524

434.5 IIb- 525

430.6 IIb- 526

414.5 IIb- 527

418.6 IIb- 528

406.6 IIb- 529

407.0 IIb- 530

428.6 IIb- 531

392.5 IIb- 532

392.5 IIb- 533

424.9 IIb- 534

414.6 IIb- 535

480.7 IIb- 536

421.0 IIb- 537

431.6 IIb- 538

409.0 IIb- 539

448.5 IIb- 540

453.6 IIb- 541

467.4 IIb- 542

423.0 IIb- 543

370.5 IIb- 544

432.6 IIb- 545

402.6 IIb- 546

416.6 IIb- 547

299.4 IIb- 548

374.5 IIb- 549

418.6 IIb- 550

464.6 IIb- 551

341.5 IIb- 552

404.5 IIb- 553

388.5 IIb- 554

407.0 IIb- 555

313.4 IIb- 556

388.5 IIb- 557

388.5 IIb- 558

404.5 IIb- 559

369.5 IIb- 560

355.5 IIb- 561

432.5 IIb- 562

355.5 IIb- 563

394.6 IIb- 564

425.6 IIb- 565

452.6 IIb- 566

354.5 IIb- 567

395.5 IIb- 568

394.6 IIb- 569

402.6 IIb- 570

416.5 IIb- 571

442.5 IIb- 572

448.5 IIb- 573

313.4 IIb- 574

418.6 IIb- 575

366.5 IIb- 576

382.5 IIb- 577

384.5 IIb- 578

408.6 IIb- 579

432.6 IIb- 580

471.6 IIb- 581

366.5 IIb- 582

418.6 IIb- 583

418.5 IIb- 584

421.0 IIb- 585

380.6 IIb- 586

327.4 IIb- 587

402.6 IIb- 588

389.5 IIb- 589

410.6 IIb- 590

453.4 IIb- 591

390.5 IIb- 592

404.5 IIb- 593

390.5 IIb- 594

369.5 IIb- 595

366.5 IIb- 596

394.6 IIb- 597

444.6 IIb- 598

409.6 IIb- 599

390.5 IIb- 600

418.6 IIb- 601

445.6 IIb- 602

368.5 IIb- 603

313.4 IIb- 604

438.6 IIb- 605

402.6 IIb- 606

393.5 IIb- 607

395.6 IIb- 608

424.6 IIb- 609

459.6 IIb- 610

491.7 IIb- 611

383.6 IIb- 612

432.5 IIb- 613

471.6 IIb- 614

452.6 IIb- 615

409.6 IIb- 616

407.0 IIb- 617

421.0

TABLE 10 5-[[2,5-Dimethyl-1H-Pyrrol-3-Yl]Methylene]-2,4- Thiazolidinediones ID Structure IIc- 1

IIc- 2

IIc- 3

IIc- 4

IIc- 5

IIc- 6

IIc- 7

IIc- 8

IIc- 9

IIc- 10

IIc- 11

IIc- 12

IIc- 13

IIc- 14

IIc- 15

IIc- 16

IIc- 17

IIc- 18

IIc- 19

IIc- 20

IIc- 21

IIc- 22

IIc- 23

IIc- 24

IIc- 25

IIc- 26

IIc- 27

IIc- 28

IIc- 29

IIc- 30

IIc- 31

IIc- 32

IIc- 33

IIc- 34

IIc- 35

IIc- 36

IIc- 37

IIc- 38

IIc- 39

IIc- 40

IIc- 41

IIc- 42

IIc- 43

IIc- 44

IIc- 45

IIc- 46

IIc- 47

IIc- 48

IIc- 49

IIc- 50

IIc- 51

IIc- 52

IIc- 53

IIc- 54

IIc- 55

IIc- 56

IIc- 57

IIc- 58

IIc- 59

IIc- 60

IIc- 61

IIc- 62

IIc- 63

IIc- 64

IIc- 65

IIc- 66

IIc- 67

IIc- 68

IIc- 69

IIc- 70

IIc- 71

IIc- 72

IIc- 73

IIc- 74

IIc- 75

IIc- 76

IIc- 77

IIc- 78

IIc- 79

IIc- 80

IIc- 81

IIc- 82

IIc- 83

IIc- 84

IIc- 85

IIc- 86

IIc- 87

IIc- 88

IIc- 89

IIc- 90

IIc- 91

IIc- 92

IIc- 93

IIc- 94

IIc- 95

IIc- 96

IIc- 97

IIc- 98

IIc- 99

IIc- 100

IIc- 101

IIc- 102

IIc- 103

IIc- 104

IIc- 105

IIc- 106

IIc- 107

IIc- 108

IIc- 109

IIc- 110

IIc- 111

IIc- 112

IIc- 113

A number of representative oxazoles and thiazole derivatives of this invention, as listed below in Table 11, were tested for their inhibitory activity and IC₅₀s were calculated. For the purpose of Table 11 below, activity of each compound is determined using the luciferase assay method in Drosophila Clone 8 cells.

TABLE 11 IC₅₀ Values of Exemplary Compounds ID C#* Structure MW IC₅₀ (μM) IIa-66 C6

380.51 3.51 IIa-333 C3

394.54 4.18 IIa-719 C1

330.45 1.58 IIa-722 C13

316.43 1259.72 IIa-2102 C8

392.52 1.10 IIa-143 C5

367.4 3.06 IIa-432 C10

404.5 4.76 IIc-3 C14

375.4 3.24 *see FIGS. 3-12

From the foregoing description, various modifications and changes in the compositions and methods of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art. All such modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included therein.

All publications, including but not limited to patents and patent applications, cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference herein as though fully set forth.

At least some of the chemical names of compounds of the invention as given and set forth in this application, may have been generated on an automated basis by use of a commercially available chemical naming software program, and have not been independently verified. Representative programs performing this function include the Lexichem naming tool sold by Open Eye Software, Inc. and the Autonom Software tool sold by MDL, Inc. In the instance where the indicated chemical name and the depicted structure differ, the depicted structure will control.

Chemical structures shown herein were prepared using either ChemDraw® or ISIS®/DRAW. Any open valency appearing on a carbon, oxygen or nitrogen atom in the structures herein indicates the presence of a hydrogen atom. Where a chiral center exists in a structure but no specific stereochemistry is shown for the chiral center, both enantiomers associated with the chiral structure are encompassed by the structure. 

1. A method for treating or ameliorating in a mammal a disease or condition that is causally related to the aberrant activity of the Wnt signaling pathway in vivo, wherein the disease or condition is a cancer, which method comprises administering to the mammal an effective disease-treating or condition-treating amount of a compound according to formula I:

wherein A is A¹, A² or A³;

A¹ is

A² is

A³ is x is 1, when A is A¹ or A²; or x is 0, when A is A³; L¹ is S, SO or SO₂; m1 is 1, 2 or 3; n is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5; L² is substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₇ alkylene or heteroalkylene; each R¹, R^(2a), R^(2b), R^(2c), and R^(2d) is independently selected from hydrogen, halo, and substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₆ alkyl; R² is selected from aryl or heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R⁴; R³ is hydroxy, alkoxy, substituted or unsubstituted amino or cycloheteroalkyl; or when A is A³, R³ is R⁵; each R⁴ and R^(5a) is independently selected from H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, acyl, substituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted acylamino, substituted or unsubstituted alkylamino, substituted or unsubstituted alkylhio, substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, substituted alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkylarylamino, arylalkyloxy, substituted arylalkyloxy, amino, aryl, substituted aryl, arylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted sulfonyl, substituted or unsubstituted sulfinyl, substituted or unsubstituted sulfanyl, substituted or unsubstituted aminosulfonyl, substituted or unsubstituted arylsulfonyl, azido, carboxy, substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl, cyano, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloheteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted dialkylamino, halo, heteroaryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, hydroxy, nitro, and thiol; and R⁵ is selected from aryl or heteroaryl, unsubstituted or substituted with one or more R^(5a); or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof; and stereoisomers, isotopic variants and tautomers thereof.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is according to formula IIa, IIb or IIc:

and wherein L¹, L², m1, n, R^(2a), R^(2b), R^(2c), R^(2d), R², R³, R⁴, and R⁵ are as in claim
 1. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the compound is according to formulae IIa, IIIb, IIIc, IIId, IIIe, or IIIf:

wherein n and R⁴ are as stated, and each R^(3a) and R^(3b) is independently selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; or R^(3a) and R^(3b) join together to form a cycloheteroalkyl heteroaryl ring; and m is 0 or
 1. 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the compound is according to formula IVa, IVb, or IVc:

wherein n, R⁴, and R⁵ are as stated, and each R^(3a) and R^(3b) is independently selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; or R^(3a) and R^(3b) join together to form a cycloheteroalkyl heteroaryl ring.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is according to formulae Va, Vb, Vc, Vd, Ve or Vf:

wherein each R^(3a) and R^(3b) is independently selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; or R^(3a) and R^(3b) join together to form a cycloheteroalkyl heteroaryl ring; and m is 0 or
 1. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is according to formula VIa, VIb, or VIc:

and m is 0 or
 1. 7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the compound is according to formula VIIa, VIIb, VIIc or VIId:

wherein R^(3b) is selected from H, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; or R^(3b) is joined together with R^(3a) to form a cycloheteroalkyl heteroaryl ring.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is according to formula VIIIa, VIIIb, VIIIc, or VIIId:

wherein Cy is

and wherein R^(3c) is H or alkyl.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is according to formula IXa, IXb, IXc or IXd:


10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is according to formula Xa, Xb, Xc or Xd:


11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is according to formula XIa, XIb, XIc or XId:


12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is according to formula XIIa, XIIb, XIIc or XIId:


13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is according to formula XIIIa, XIIIb, XIIIc or XIIId:


14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is according to formula XIVa, or XIVb:

herein each R⁴ and R^(5a) is independently selected from alkyl, alkoxy, haloalkyl, halo, hydroxy, carboxy, carbalkoxy, or nitro; and each n and t is independently 0, 1 or
 2. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is according to formula XVa or XVb:


16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is selected from Tables 1-6.
 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound is selected from Tables 7-10.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein the cancer is prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, mesothelioma, Barrett's esophagus, synovial sarcoma, cervical cancer, endometrial ovarian cancer, Wilm's tumor, bladder cancer or leukemia.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer. 